There seems to be disagreement within the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the potential return of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 NNPP presidential candidate and former Kano State governor.
The State Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, verified allegations that Kwankwaso, who was recently expelled from the NNPP, is attempting to rejoin the APC during a news conference on Friday at the APC headquarters in Kano. Abbas praised the move, calling it a step in the right direction.
“We have received reports that the leader of the NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who was expelled from his party, is preparing to return to the APC. This is a welcome development—we are happy and pleased about it,” Abbas said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima are among those who had previously attacked party leaders and the administration; nevertheless, the chairman made it plain that they must first apologise before they can be re-admitted.
“Anyone who knows they have insulted our leaders, such as President Tinubu and his vice, must go back and apologize to them. It’s not acceptable to accuse and attack them in the past, and now claim you want to come back under their leadership,” he warned.
Abbas stressed that the APC is still accepting new members and that officials from the ward and local governments have been directed to start enrolling those who are interested.
“Anyone who wishes to contest for any position is free to do so—once the people vote for them, so be it,” he said, adding that the party will provide all candidates a fair platform.
However, he issued a warning that the APC will not act as a haven for anybody dealing with moral or legal dilemmas.
“We are also aware that some individuals are seeking to join our party for personal reasons—either because they have failed politically at the national or state level, or because they are under investigation by the EFCC or ICPC.
They should know that our party is not a safe haven for thieves and criminals. We will not shield anyone. The law will take its course,” Abbas added.
Despite the chairman’s open arms, some senior party members strongly oppose Kwankwaso’s return.
Speaking to Journalists on Thursday, APC spokesman, Ahmed Aruwa flatly rejected the idea.
“We do not welcome him. After committing numerous wrongs against the people, he now seeks to return? We will not accept that,” Aruwa stated.
He pointed to the controversial demolitions carried out by the NNPP-led government in Kano as a key reason for the resistance.
“They demolished shops and destroyed people’s livelihoods out of spite. Now he wants to return to us? We’re not interested,” he said.
Aruwa dismissed the notion that Kwankwaso could strengthen the APC in the face of growing opposition unity.
“We won elections before without him, and Tinubu will win again without him. His return would only cause confusion and unrest in the party,” he argued.
“Even co-wives aren’t kept in the same house to avoid conflict. Kwankwaso should remain in the NNPP. Ganduje is in APC. Even if Abuja accepts him, we in Kano will not,” he declared.
On the other hand, NNPP Kano Chairman Dr. Hashimu Sulaiman Dungurawa told Journalists that their members are simply waiting for Kwankwaso’s instructions and will follow him wherever he goes.
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“We are blind followers. We don’t recognize anyone but Kwankwaso. Wherever he goes, we’ll follow,” Dungurawa said.
He brushed off the rumours of defection as conjecture. “The discussions were only audible to me on social media. When the moment is appropriate, Kwankwaso himself will speak if there is any truth to it.
Kwankwaso and Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, the party’s founder, were at odds over leadership earlier this year, with both sides asserting authority over the organisation.
Kwankwaso is well-known for his previous criticism of Pakistan. His friends, NNPP spokesperson Ladipo Johnson and party Board of Trustees Secretary Buba Galadima, have so far refuted rumours that he intends to switch to the APC.
President Tinubu and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje’s political adversary, the NNPP, have not yet formally addressed the circulating rumours regarding his political destiny.
