The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, addressing his supporters
The National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is set to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday.
Credible sources within both the ADC and the NNPP disclosed that the former Kano State governor will formally declare for the party in Kano.
A principal official of the ADC, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, revealed that the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, and the National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, will receive Kwankwaso during the declaration ceremony.
The sources added that the former governor is expected to join the party alongside the immediate past Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo.
Gwarzo resigned from office on Friday, a development confirmed by his media aide, Ibrahim Shuaibu.
Findings showed that the ADC had been courting Kwankwaso for over three months as part of efforts to strengthen the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
During the negotiations, the former governor was said to have demanded the party’s vice-presidential slot as a condition to contest in the next presidential election.
Kwankwaso had reportedly considered a joint ticket with the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Sources also indicated that former President Olusegun Obasanjo played a key role in encouraging the proposed alliance.
The talks between Kwankwaso and the ADC intensified after the defection of his political ally and Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress.
Yusuf joined the APC on January 26 alongside members of the Kano State House of Assembly and several cabinet members.
Investigations revealed that Kwankwaso concluded plans to join the ADC after a meeting with Aregbesola at his residence in Abuja on Thursday.
Party insiders disclosed that Kwankwaso had earlier agreed to join the ADC and initially fixed Tuesday, March 24, for his declaration before making a sudden change of plans.
According to one ADC official, the former governor had insisted on being guaranteed the party’s vice-presidential ticket before making the move.
“We have been talking to Kwankwaso, and he has agreed to join the ADC. He was supposed to declare for the party last Tuesday in Kano in the presence of our national officials,” the source said.
“But he made a sudden U-turn, insisting that we must promise him the vice-presidential slot; failing that, he would no longer join the party.”
The source added that the party’s national leadership declined to make such a commitment at the time.
“The National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, said he was not in a position to make that kind of commitment; that was how Kwankwaso refused to make the declaration,” the official stated.
However, following further discussions, particularly the meeting with Aregbesola, the NNPP leader reportedly agreed to join the party without conditions.
“He has agreed to join without preconditions,” the ADC official said in a message to Sunday PUNCH.
Sources within the NNPP also confirmed that Kwankwaso would travel from Abuja to Kano on Sunday ahead of the planned declaration.
“The leader will be in Kano on Sunday, and some NNPP officials have been informed about his decision to join the ADC. I think the declaration will be done on Monday,” a party source said.
Another senior NNPP member confirmed the planned defection, predicting a massive turnout of supporters during the declaration.
“It is true. We’re going to join ADC on Monday. We will be in Kano. You can expect a large number of people at the declaration,” the source said.
“Kwankwaso owns Kano, and he will demonstrate his strength on Monday.”
Efforts to obtain official reactions from party spokespersons were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The spokesperson for the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said he was unavailable to comment on the development.
“I will call you back; I may not be able to respond to your enquiry right now,” he said.
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, said he was unaware of the planned declaration.
“I am not aware; I have not been available for a while,” he said.
The development comes barely a week after Peter Obi, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson visited Kwankwaso at his residence on Miller Road, Kano, on Sunday, March 22.
Kwankwaso had described the meeting as a moment of unity and celebration among political allies.
