Kwankwaso Sets Conditions for Joining APC, Demands Guarantees for Kano Government and Loyalists

Former Governor of Kano State and National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has confirmed that he has not ruled out the possibility of joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), but insists that any such move must be preceded by clear and binding assurances regarding the future of the Kano State government and the protection of his political supporters.

Kwankwaso made this known on Wednesday during a meeting with leaders and supporters of the Kwankwasiyya Movement from Rano and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Areas at his Miller Road residence in Kano. The gathering was also attended by several party stakeholders who reaffirmed their loyalty to him amid intensifying speculation over potential defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Addressing the crowd, the former governor clarified that he had never categorically stated that he would not join the APC. However, he emphasized that any consideration of defection must be guided by concrete political guarantees rather than vague promises.

“I didn’t say I won’t join APC, but we must first be clearly assured of the future of the Kano State government before we join the APC,” Kwankwaso said. “What will be the fate of our lawmakers and other supporters before we agree to defect?”

Kwankwaso recalled previous political experiences in which his faction played a decisive role in helping to form governments at the national level, only to be sidelined afterward. According to him, those experiences remain a major source of caution in his current political calculations.

“In the past, we joined and contributed to forming the government, but later we were abandoned. That was why we left the party,” he stated. “Have they now changed their position toward us? Everyone knows the role we played at that time.”

The NNPP leader stressed that, as of now, no clear assurances had been offered by the APC leadership to guarantee that his political structure in Kano would be preserved or that his supporters would be accommodated within the ruling party. He warned that without such guarantees, any move would be politically reckless.

“Up till now, no one has given me a clear assurance that we will be allowed to retain our government and continue with our political structure,” Kwankwaso said. “I need to know where I stand.”

The meeting, which many observers described as a strategic show of strength, was attended by key figures within the Kano State government and the NNPP. Among them were the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo; the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Yusuf Kofar Mata; the Kano State NNPP Chairman, Hon. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa; and other senior party officials. Their presence was widely interpreted as a reaffirmation of loyalty to Kwankwaso and a signal that the Kwankwasiyya Movement remains firmly under his influence.

Political analysts say the gathering highlights a growing internal tension within Kano’s political landscape, particularly amid ongoing rumours that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may be considering a defection to the APC. While neither Kwankwaso nor the governor has officially confirmed such plans, the speculation has intensified discussions about alignments, realignments, and power negotiations ahead of 2027.

Analysts further note that Kwankwaso’s cautious and conditional posture underscores the importance of political structures in Nigerian politics, especially in a politically strategic state like Kano. With Kano’s large voting population and entrenched political machinery, any major defection would carry significant national implications.

Rather than appearing desperate or defensive, Kwankwaso’s statements suggest a calculated approach aimed at safeguarding both his political legacy and the interests of his loyalists. By publicly stating his conditions, he has effectively placed the responsibility on the APC leadership to decide whether they are willing to accommodate his demands.

As Nigeria’s political landscape continues to shift, Kwankwaso’s next move is expected to have far-reaching consequences, not just for Kano State, but for the broader balance of power ahead of the 2027 elections. Whether the APC will meet his conditions remains to be seen, but for now, the former governor has made it clear that any defection will not come cheaply or without firm guarantees.