Former Kano State Governor and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has sent shockwaves through the political space after declaring that his party could only rejoin or merge with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under strict conditions.
Kwankwaso, who hosted a delegation of APC members led by Buhari Bakwana, a former adviser to Abdullahi Ganduje, at his residence in Kano, categorically rejected the idea of entering into any “use and dump” arrangement. He insisted that his party, which fielded governorship candidates in all states and has strong structures across the country, must be guaranteed tangible benefits before considering a return.
“What will the governorship candidates in the states get? What is the benefit for NNPP, which has a presence across Nigeria? We will not be deceived again,” Kwankwaso warned, drawing attention to his experience with previous alliances where he claimed to have endured persecution and betrayal without fair compensation.
The former minister reminded his audience that he was a founding figure of APC in 2013, sacrificing alongside others to build the party from the ground up. Yet, he alleged that his contributions were disregarded, noting similar frustrations when his group later returned to the PDP and was denied even a zonal chairmanship.
Political analysts believe Kwankwaso’s posture is both a negotiation strategy and a clear warning to APC leaders, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that any merger talks must come with concrete assurances. His conditions are seen as demands for recognition, positions of influence, and protection against marginalization of NNPP leaders and supporters.
Reactions from the APC have been mixed. While Kano APC Secretary Zakari Ibrahim Sarina welcomed the idea of Kwankwaso’s return, he stressed that APC is too big a party to be hijacked by any individual. “He will be welcomed if he abides by the rules, but APC is a national movement with structures no single politician can control,” Sarina stated.
On the other hand, Kwankwaso’s close ally, Buba Galadima, poured cold water on the prospects, declaring it would be “extremely difficult” for Kwankwaso to support President Tinubu in 2027, citing APC’s antagonism towards Kwankwaso’s political family in Kano, including recent controversies over emirship appointments.
Observers note that the stakes are high. With the 2027 elections looming, Kwankwaso’s potential return to APC could shift the balance of power, especially in the North where his influence remains formidable. For APC, absorbing NNPP could mean consolidating Kano and other battleground states; for Kwankwaso, it could mean trading independence for influence at the center.
But whether the ruling party is prepared to meet Kwankwaso’s tough terms—or whether the NNPP chieftain is merely playing high-stakes politics to extract concessions—remains a question that could define the shape of Nigeria’s next political realignment.