Na big political gbege dey happen for Nigeria as former Kano State governor and National Leader of New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, don finally agree to join African Democratic Congress. According to reliable sources wey Sunday PUNCH talk to, Kwankwaso go make official declaration for Monday inside Kano State. This move come after months of negotiation between Kwankwaso and ADC top officials.
Kwankwaso meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for Abuja on Saturday add more pepper to the matter. Atiku post for social media say dem have “robust discussion on the state of the nation.” This meeting happen just one day after Kwankwaso meet with former Osun State governor and ADC National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The timing of all these meetings show say serious political realignment dey happen ahead of 2027 general elections.
Sources inside ADC confide say Kwankwaso initially demand vice-presidential slot before he agree to join the party. According to one party official wey talk on condition of anonymity, “He was supposed to declare for the party last Tuesday in Kano in the presence of our national officials. But he made a sudden U-turn, insisting that we must promise him the vice-presidential slot.” The ADC National Chairman, David Mark, reportedly reject this demand, say he no fit make that kind of commitment.
After the rejection, Aregbesola hold private meeting with Kwankwaso on Thursday, and na that meeting make the NNPP leader agree to join ADC without preconditions. Picture of Kwankwaso and Aregbesola after their meeting don dey circulate for social media, posted by Kwankwaso media aide, Saifullahi Hassan. The ADC chieftain confirm say Kwankwaso “has agreed to join without preconditions” and go make declaration for Monday.
NNPP officials wey talk anonymously confirm say Kwankwaso go depart Abuja for Kano on Sunday to prepare for the declaration. One NNPP leader say, “It is true. We’re going to join ADC on Monday. We will be in Kano. You can expect a large number of people at the declaration. Kwankwaso owns Kano, and he will demonstrate his strength on Monday.” Kwankwaso likely to join ADC alongside immediate past Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, wey resign from his position on Friday.
This political movement come after Kwankwaso political godson and Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, defect from NNPP to All Progressives Congress on January 26 with members of state House of Assembly and his cabinet. The defection of Yusuf to APC make Kwankwaso political base for Kano shake, and na this push am to find stronger platform for 2027 election.
ADC don dey court Kwankwaso for more than three months, with the former governor initially eye joint ticket with 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi. Both Obi and Kwankwaso camps don confirm this move before, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo say na him be the brains behind the alliance. But as things stand now, Kwankwaso focus don shift to ADC.
Meanwhile, ADC don extend alliance move to Nigeria Democratic Congress, with ongoing discussions with former Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, and other leaders of the party. Sources say some leaders of Tanimu Turaki-led PDP faction go join NDC “very soon,” a move wey dem describe as strategy to revitalise the party as formidable opposition platform.
One ADC leader wey talk anonymously say, “We have established that Makinde and Dickson are not working for President Bola Tinubu. Some other PDP leaders with Makinde will also move to the NDC. That will make the party a strong opposition platform, and they will use it to negotiate with the ADC as a bloc instead of as individuals.” The leader add say Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, dey hesitate to defect to APC because he dey with Kwankwaso, Makinde and Dickson.
All Progressives Congress downplay Kwankwaso defection to ADC, say he no pose threat to President Bola Tinubu re-election. APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, tell Sunday PUNCH say, “Kwankwaso is free to move to any party he wants. That is the beauty of democracy. But he is not a threat to us, nor to President Tinubu’s second term.” Basiru argue say Kwankwaso lack political structure to challenge Tinubu, noting say for 2023 election, he win only one state.
As opposition figures dey realign, President Bola Tinubu chances for 2027 election dey face stronger opposition ahead of next cycle of polls for the country. The meeting between Kwankwaso and Atiku, plus Kwankwaso planned defection to ADC, show say serious political calculations dey happen. Whether this movements go translate to strong challenge against APC for 2027 remain something we go dey watch as events dey unfold.
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