By John Umeh
Former Kano State governor and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has outlined clear conditions that must be met before he would consider rejoining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso made his position known in a video message shared on Facebook by his aide, Saifullahi Hassan, amid growing speculation about a possible defection to the APC. He said any move back to the party must be based on firm agreements and a clear understanding of his role and political direction.
According to him, he would not accept a return to the APC without clarity on how his political ideology and programmes—particularly those targeted at ordinary Nigerians and his large base of supporters—would be accommodated.
“I will not join the APC blindly,” Kwankwaso said. “There must be a clear agreement. I need to understand my role, the direction of the journey, and what becomes of our plans for the common people, including the position of our supporters and the Kano State Government. That is my position.”
The NNPP leader stressed that entering into a political alliance without defined terms would be unacceptable, insisting that any decision must reflect the interests of his followers and the broader Kwankwasiyya Movement.
His comments come against the backdrop of reports suggesting that only Kwankwaso and elements of the Kwankwasiyya Movement are considering a possible defection to the APC, a claim earlier echoed by the NNPP’s national secretary.
Recall that in recent months, pressure had mounted on Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Kwankwaso to lead their political base into the APC. While Governor Yusuf was reported to have resisted such calls, Kwankwaso has maintained a cautious stance, making it clear that any realignment would depend on concrete political guarantees rather than informal assurances.
Kwankwaso’s latest remarks suggest that, for now, a return to the APC remains conditional and far from settled.
