Former presidential candidate sets conditions for potential party switch amid growing speculation
KANO, Nigeria – Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who ran for president on the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) ticket in 2023, appears to be weighing a return to the All Progressives Congress (APC). But there’s a catch, he wants full recognition of his Kwankwasiyya political movement first.
His Movement Isn’t Up for Negotiation
People close to the former Kano State governor say Kwankwaso won’t budge on this point. His political structure? That’s staying intact, no matter what. The Kwankwasiyya Movement started during his second time as governor and has become something of a phenomenon across Northern Nigeria, especially among folks who buy into his pro-poor messaging.
You’ll spot Kwankwasiyya supporters by their red caps, a symbol that represents the fight for “Talakawa,” which means the masses or poor people in Hausa. It’s more than just political branding, though. This grassroots network has stuck with Kwankwaso through thick and thin.
“If you said I should enter APC, I want to join APC, and I didn’t say I will not join APC even now, but for what position?” Kwankwaso asked supporters recently. He’s made it clear that any comeback has to include “clear agreements that guarantee recognition for my political movement, the Kwankwasiyya.”
Old Wounds Still Fresh
Kwankwaso hasn’t forgotten how things went down before. He’s quick to remind anyone listening that he helped build the APC from the ground up, yet felt completely sidelined during Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in power. The former defense minister even faced investigations from the EFCC, ICPC, police, and SSS while opposing the previous government.
“We are the ones who established the APC. We are the leaders of the APC,” Kwankwaso said, his frustration evident. “But when the APC came to power, they gave us nothing, not even a thank you, because our faction of the PDP didn’t start with them.”
His beef isn’t just with the APC, either. When he went back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they couldn’t even offer him a zonal chairman position. That kind of treatment, Kwankwaso argues, has actually made his movement stronger and more independent. Sometimes being pushed aside forces you to build something better on your own.
Where Things Stand Now
The two-time presidential candidate seems confident about his political clout these days. His NNPP did surprisingly well in 2023, especially in Kano State – proof that the Kwankwasiyya movement still packs a punch at the ballot box.
“We’re not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we’re happy,” Kwankwaso said. “However, if there is anyone who wants to work with us truthfully and will not abandon us as before, we are ready.”
It’s a measured response that suggests he’s learned from past disappointments. No more jumping ship without guarantees.
What This Could Mean
If Kwankwaso does return to the APC, it might shake up Northern Nigeria’s political map in ways we haven’t seen before. His movement has real pull with young people and working-class voters who connect with his populist style. That’s not something any party can afford to ignore.
But his demands suggest he’s not interested in being a junior partner this time around. He wants structural recognition that would let him keep his political independence within whatever larger party he joins. Smart move, considering how previous alliances left him feeling burned.
Whether the APC is willing to accommodate those terms remains to be seen. Any deal would have to balance Kwankwaso’s need for autonomy with the party’s own goals for expanding its Northern base. Not exactly a simple negotiation.
