The speculation that a former governor of the Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso, would defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) does not fascinate many chieftains of the party in the state, ALI BABA writes.
Recently, the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced that it had received information about an impending defection of a former governor of the state and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to the party.
The state chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, told newsmen that the party was happy about the development.
Abbas said the party had already directed its ward chapters to open registers for new defectors that were expected to accompany Kwankwaso to the party.
“We advise all those desirous of joining our esteemed party to go to their respective wards and register. Also, we want to assure our elected party officials from the ward, local government, senatorial and state levels that they will continue to function as provided by the tenure of their office in the party constitution.
“For the purpose of seeking any future party or elective position, any old or new entrants shall be free to exercise his/her constitutional rights of voting or being voted for without any special preference,” the chairman said.
However, sources within the party revealed that the news about the planned defection of the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement to APC was unsettling some members, particularly those aspiring to vie for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
A party stalwart, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the defection was likely to affect the APC’s calculation for the 2027 governorship election.
He said that prior to the development, the APC had been assiduously strategising for the 2027 governorship election. He said that the party had actually embarked on a membership drive toward solidifying its structure to unseat Governor Abba Yusuf of the NNPP in the 2027 governorship election.
“It is worthy of mention that Sen. Barau Jibrin, the Deputy President of the Senate, has been the pillar behind the APC’s renewed zeal, especially the membership drive,” he said.
He stated that Barau, who represents Kano North in the National Assembly, is seen as the main pillar of the party toward winning the 2027 governorship election.
He also said that Barau had been working toward boosting the political base of the party to ensure a landslide victory at the 2027 governorship election in the state.
According to him, the senator was responsible for the defection of notable NNPP chieftains to the party.
“Barau actually needs the support of everyone in the party toward capturing the state in the 2027 governorship election,” he said.
Another chieftain of the party, who also pleaded for anonymity, corroborated the claim, saying: “Barau’s growing influence has put the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement on edge ahead of the 2027 elections. Even with the influence of the NNPP as the ruling party in Kano, Barau has refused to be intimidated.
“Although NNPP won the governorship and presidential elections, he fought a good fight in Kano North, winning his senatorial seat and delivering the district to President Bola Tinubu.
“Due to its defeat, APC was boxed into the opposition in Kano. Undeterred by the blow of fate, Barau decided to stay in the gap and he has been the leading figure in maintaining the APC structure in the state since then. Apart from keeping the party’s soul together with the support of the National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, the state chairman, and other leaders, Barau has succeeded in wooing hundreds of NNPP and Kwankwasiyya Movement loyalists to the APC to the surprise of their leader.
“To observers, the foundation laid by Barau paved the way for the defection of Senator Kawu Sumaila, Kabiru Rerum and Abdullahi Sani Rogo, and former Secretary to the State Government, Dr Baffa Bichi,” the source said.
The source added that Barau was also responsible for the defection of former House of Representatives members – Badamasi Ayuba and Sha’aban Sharada – and also a former member of the state House of Assembly, Zubairu Hamza Masu, among others.
A reliable source in Barau’s camp said the planned defection of Kwankwaso might affect the permutations for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
“Barau has actually positioned himself as the rightful aspirant for the governorship in 2027. However, the coming of Kwankwaso might result in some dislocations within the party. But we are still hopeful because Barau is fully on the ground,” the source said.
This could be the reason many chieftains of the party in the state appear not to be fascinated about Kwankwaso’s planned return to the party.
Speaking with journalists after a meeting with the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, at the APC secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, said Kwankwaso was struggling to join the APC due to his present political predicament, stressing that his Kwankwasiyya Movement was dying in Kano.
According to him, except Ganduje, who is the leader of APC in Kano State, agrees to the speculated defection, Kwankwaso would not be welcomed to the APC.
“Kwankwaso is no longer active in Kano. He is only coming to APC, not that we invited him. I am assuring you and even Mr. President has all his records from the grassroots in Kano. He is no more attractive, no more alternative. So, he is struggling to be accommodated in the APC. That may bring a lot of crisis in the APC in Kano State. This is our position, unless it is a decision from our father to accommodate him.
“I was in the House of Assembly in 1999 when Kwankwaso was the governor. So, I know Kwankwaso very well. He is no longer attractive in Kano. We have no deal unless the national chairman says yes, and as a leader, we should accommodate him,” Ata said.
Also, a youth group under the aegis of the APC Youth and Students Council (KASASCO) in Kano has also declared that the party does not need Kwankwaso. The Director-General of KASASCO, Yahaya Kabo, made this known during a press conference at the Kano Press Centre recently.
According to Kabo, Kwankwaso’s return would add no value to the party, either directly or indirectly, especially given what he described as the former governor’s diminishing political relevance.
“Under the current leadership of Abdullahi Abbas, the APC in Kano State enjoys a strong footing with two serving senators, members in the House of Representatives, and the state House of Assembly,” he said.
He pointed out that the NNPP in Kano was witnessing a wave of defections, with several key political figures who contributed to its 2023 election victory having left the party for the APC.
“Among those who have defected is the current senator representing Kano South, Sen. Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila. It is now evident that the NNPP cannot win elections without such foundational figures,” Kabo stated.
Kabo, therefore, argued that Kwankwaso’s attempt to rejoin the APC was driven by political desperation.
“Kwankwaso’s political influence has waned. He is now seeking political refuge, and he sees the APC as his only option. But the APC is not a sanctuary for spent political forces, nor is it desperate for his kind of politics, which may only disrupt the party’s unity and progress,” he added.
Kabo emphasised that the APC has successfully resolved its past internal disputes and was focused on consolidating its strength ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also expressed confidence that the party would secure over two million votes in Kano for President Tinubu and other APC candidates.
The state APC Chairman, Abbas, also attributed Kwankwaso’s planned defection to the fact that he has lost relevance in the NNPP.
Although he noted that Kwankwaso’s planned defection was “is a welcome development, especially given the fact that the APC remains his last political refuge as he has successfully destroyed his relations with all other political groupings in the country”, he emphasised that “the APC as a political party does not and will not encourage or promote the existence of cult-like associations in the name of political activities or groupings.”
Despite these misgivings by some members of the party, Ganduje said the ruling party would welcome Kwankwaso if he defects. Ganduje, who spoke with journalists after receiving Ata in his office, said: “The APC is deepening and widening democracy in the country. Kwankwaso is a fish out of water, trying to find its way back into the waters.
“We cannot say we can’t accommodate him, because a friend in need is a friend indeed. We don’t want to leave him completely abandoned. We can still have him in, if he wants to join us.
“When you see your son running to where he would get shelter and you are a big brother in a big home, I think it is morally right to accommodate him. So, we cannot say we cannot accommodate him.”
Meanwhile, the state chairman of NNPP, Dr. Hashimu Sulaiman Dungurawa, told The Guardian that speculations about Kwankwaso’s defection from the party to the APC were unfounded.
Sulaiman insisted that the story lacked authenticity, since it was yet to be confirmed by Kwankwaso.
“I only heard the talks on social media. If there’s any truth to it, Kwankwaso himself will speak when the time is right. The story is merely a speculation that should not be taken seriously,” he said.
The coming days will tell if indeed there is any truth in the story or not.
