A heated political argument has erupted between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) over claims that former Kano State governor and NNPP national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is planning to dump his party and rejoin the APC.
The drama started when the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, claimed that the NNPP is “dead” and that Kwankwaso is already making moves to return to the ruling party. Ganduje made the controversial comments in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving members of the Tinubu Support Group at the APC national secretariat.
Ganduje said, “The coffin has already been constructed. What remains now is to dig the grave. Kwankwaso wants to come back, and we will welcome him.”
But the NNPP quickly fired back, saying there is no truth in Ganduje’s claims and accusing him of panicking over Kwankwaso’s growing popularity.
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“Kwankwaso is not joining APC” – NNPP
NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed Ganduje’s remarks as “inconsequential” and “panic-driven.” He said Kwankwaso is fully committed to building the NNPP and preparing the party for the 2027 general elections.
Johnson told The PUNCH, “Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has not—repeat, not—indicated any intention to join the APC. He is focused on rebuilding and fortifying the NNPP, and is currently consulting with Nigerians across different sectors on how best to reposition the party for 2027.”
He added that Ganduje’s comments show fear of Kwankwaso’s political strength.
Johnson stated, “He is in panic mode because he knows that Kwankwaso adds more value to any political space than he could ever contribute.”
Osun NNPP Chairman Slams Ganduje
The party’s state chairman in Osun, Dr. Tosin Odeyemi, also weighed in, saying Ganduje’s energy would be better spent fixing the APC’s many problems instead of making baseless statements about other parties.
Odeyemi in a press statement said, “Ganduje should be concerned about the APC’s failures rather than making baseless claims. Kwankwaso is too visionary to align with a party like the APC that has brought untold hardship on Nigerians.”
He accused the APC chairman of being out of touch with the reality facing Nigerians and claimed that Ganduje is only trying to lure popular politicians like Kwankwaso into a party “riddled with disappointment.”
He said, “Ganduje’s followers in Kano are probably misleading him for financial favours. Kwankwaso will not associate with the kind of political actors currently in the APC.”
Kano APC: We Don’t Need Kwankwaso
In a surprising twist, the Kano State chapter of the APC also rejected the idea of Kwankwaso returning to the party. The APC’s Kano Public Relations Officer, Ahmed S. Aruwa, told The PUNCH that the former governor would be a liability if he rejoined the party.
Aruwa said, “Kwankwaso has a track record of destroying parties. He wrecked the PDP, left it in crisis, and is now doing the same to the NNPP. We don’t need him in APC.”
Aruwa accused Kwankwaso of planning a return only because he wants to contest the presidency in 2031, after President Bola Tinubu’s expected second term.
Aruwa said, “We know his game. He wants to hijack the party structure through the back door. From 2019 to 2023, we toiled to build the APC while he insulted and mocked us. We won’t allow him to ruin the party.”
He also insisted that if Kwankwaso truly wanted to return to the APC, he must first reconcile with Ganduje, his former political ally turned rival.
“If he truly wants to return, he should start by meeting and reconciling with Ganduje,” Aruwa said.