The New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has signalled his willingness to return to the All Progressives Congress, but only under specific terms.
Speaking during a meeting with Hon. Buhari Bakwana at his Miller Road residence in Kano, Kwankwaso emphasized that his return to the ruling party would depend on “strong promises” from both the APC and President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that Bakwana, a former political adviser to ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, recently rejoined APC from NNPP, alongside party loyalists from all 44 local government areas in Kano State.
Kwankwaso reminded those present of his foundational role in the creation of APC back in 2013, noting that he and others who helped establish the party have faced significant political persecution over the years.
He said any consideration of returning must now include clear, tangible benefits.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us,” he stated.
“Discussions about a merger or return to APC must spell out tangible benefits for my party (NNPP). If you are asking us to join APC, you must tell us what NNPP will gain. We have gubernatorial candidates in all the states and full structures nationwide. What will you offer them, if we join?” he asked.
He also expressed frustration over previous alliances with both APC and PDP, which he claims ended in broken promises. Reflecting on the APC administration under former President Muhammadu Buhari, Kwankwaso noted that neither he nor other original members of the party received any recognition or benefit.
“Eight years of APC under the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari gave us nothing, not even appreciation. In PDP, we asked for just a zonal party chairman, but they refused. We left peacefully and today we are strong, with integrity,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kano State chapter of the APC has declared its readiness to welcome Kwankwaso back into the party, provided he abides by the rules and principles of the APC.
State Secretary of the party, Zakari Ibrahim Sarina, stated: “Kwankwaso can’t come to APC and control a party that has national spread. APC is not NNPP which he established and controls.”
“We are ready to welcome Kwankwaso back to APC, because his return is an added advantage to the ruling party. Another reason the party will be willing to have him is the peace and tranquility in Kano. We need social and economic development in Kano,” Sarina added.
Kwankwaso previously held a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu in July at the Presidential Villa, where he said they discussed politics and governance. Although he expressed openness to working with Tinubu, he did not disclose the specifics of their conversation.
Shortly after the meeting, Kwankwaso criticized the Tinubu administration for allegedly sidelining the northern region in resource allocation. Speaking at the Kano State Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment, he said:
“Let me advise the Federal Government on the distribution of federal resources. From the information available to us, it’s like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country.”
He further accused the APC of uneven allocation of national resources, suggesting a disparity between northern and southern regions.
