The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) says it would be a big relief for the party if its former presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, decides to leave and officially join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This was made known in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos by the NNPP’s National Secretary, Mr. Oginni Olaposi. He was responding to reports linking Kwankwaso to possible talks with the APC, shortly after the resignation of the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Ganduje stepped down from his role on Friday, saying it was for health reasons. However, there are rumors that his exit may be part of a wider plan involving Kwankwaso possibly joining the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Olaposi, the resignation is mainly APC’s internal issue, but the NNPP felt the need to speak because of the ongoing tension between the party and Kwankwaso.
He noted that Kwankwaso continues to insist he is still part of the NNPP even though he was expelled over alleged disloyalty and actions that went against the party’s interest.
“Kwankwaso still insists he is a member of our party even after his expulsion for alleged anti-party activities,” Olaposi said.
He also recalled how Kwankwaso changed the NNPP’s logo to that of his Kwankwasiyya Movement during his time in the party, which caused legal battles that lasted for years. INEC has now returned the official NNPP logo after the long-standing conflict.
Olaposi noted that the talk of a possible deal between Kwankwaso and the APC raises suspicion, especially because Ganduje has previously said the APC is open to welcoming back those who defected.
“It is on record that Ganduje once said that APC is always ready to pardon and accommodate defectors even those who left its fold,” he said.
The NNPP secretary further stated that the party would actually welcome Kwankwaso’s move to the APC, saying the ruling party has more capacity to deal with what he described as the political burden that comes with the former Kano governor.
“We find it difficult to believe that Kwankwaso, who is still struggling to hijack the NNPP, is also negotiating to join the ruling party,” Olaposi noted.
He ended by recalling how Kwankwaso was given the presidential ticket of the NNPP in 2023 without stress, only to later work against the party and its founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam.
“Kwankwaso betrayed our trust in him by trying to hijack the party from its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, who facilitated his free ticket for the 2023 presidential election,” Olaposi said.
