Amid sustained speculation over a possible defection by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress (APC), his political benefactor and leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has once again outlined conditions under which he could consider returning to the ruling party.
Kwankwaso stated this on Wednesday at his Miller Road residence in Kano while receiving leaders and supporters from Rano and Dawakin Tofa local government areas, alongside other members of the Kwankwasiyya movement who reaffirmed their loyalty to the NNPP. The position was disclosed in a statement issued by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, on his verified Facebook page.
According to the statement, Kwankwaso said he would not join the APC without clear terms and guarantees.
“I will not go to the APC blindly. I must be clearly informed of my role, the direction of the journey and the fate of our plans for the common people, including the position of our supporters and the Kano State Government. That is my stand,” he was quoted as saying.
Kwankwaso’s latest remarks come against the backdrop of growing political tension in Kano following reports that Governor Yusuf is weighing a move to the APC. The former governor has consistently distanced himself from the reported defection, insisting that he neither endorsed nor supports such a move.
Before reiterating his position on Wednesday, Kwankwaso had criticised those he accused of instigating the governor’s planned defection, arguing that they should also have advised Yusuf to relinquish the mandate he secured on the platform of the NNPP before joining another party.
He described it as deeply painful for an electoral mandate won after a hard-fought contest to be transferred to a rival political camp, particularly one associated with former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“I am not party to it, and I am not in support of the purported move to defect from the party. It is necessary that everyone knows this,” Kwankwaso said.
Although he ruled out an unconditional return to the APC, Kwankwaso has previously indicated openness to political realignment, provided certain conditions are met. On several occasions, he has said any move to another party must come with clear political benefits, including consideration for either the presidential or vice-presidential ticket.
In a shift of strategy earlier this week, Kwankwaso directed his supporters currently serving in Governor Yusuf’s administration to align with the governor if they are compelled to choose sides. He said the instruction was meant to shield them from political pressure, stressing that “real politics” has yet to begin.
Doubling down on that position during Wednesday’s meeting, Kwankwaso said his personal stance on joining the APC remained unchanged, insisting that his role and the future of his political movement must be clearly defined.
Daily Trust recalls that on September 19, 2025, Kwankwaso said his party was open to joining the APC but only on what he described as “strong promises.” He made the remark while receiving Buhari Bakwana, a former political adviser to ex-Governor Ganduje, alongside APC members drawn from Kano’s 44 local government areas.
At the time, Kwankwaso recalled his role in the formation of the APC, noting that he was among the first set of governors who supported the merger that produced the party.
Deputy governor identifies with Kwankwaso
Meanwhile, Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo has returned from a foreign trip and publicly identified with Kwankwaso amid the unfolding political developments.
Daily Trust reports that Gwarzo was out of the country when calls for Governor Yusuf’s defection by some local government chairmen gained momentum. He was said to have performed the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia before travelling to Dubai.
During his absence, speculations emerged that his loyalty remained firmly with Kwankwaso and that he was being positioned as a possible governorship candidate of the Kwankwasiyya movement ahead of the 2027 elections.
Upon his return on Monday, the deputy governor was seen later on Tuesday at Kwankwaso’s residence in Kano. He was also present on Wednesday at the Miller Road meeting where Kwankwaso received supporters from Rano and Dawakin Tofa local government areas, reinforcing perceptions of his alignment with the NNPP leader.