Shockwaves In Kano APC As Kwankwaso’s Defection Rumours Spark Panic

Speculation over the possible defection of former Kano State Governor and 2023 NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stirred mixed emotions among APC stakeholders in the state.

While the leadership of the Kano APC appears open to welcoming Kwankwaso, several party elders and youth groups are expressing serious concerns about the implications.

APC state chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, recently informed journalists that the party had received reports hinting at Kwankwaso’s potential return. In anticipation, ward chapters have been instructed to prepare for new members.

“We advise all intending members to go to their respective wards and register,” Abbas stated, adding that all elected officials would remain in their posts as enshrined in the party’s constitution.

Despite the open arms shown by the leadership, internal sources reveal that the development has caused unease among party members—especially aspirants eyeing the 2027 governorship race. One APC stalwart, speaking anonymously to The Guardian, said the party had been strengthening its structure to unseat the NNPP-led government in the upcoming election.

The source credited Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, for energizing the party’s grassroots mobilization and spearheading its expansion by attracting key figures, including Senator Kawu Sumaila, Kabiru Rurum, Abdullahi Sani Rogo, and Dr. Baffa Bichi.

However, insiders from Barau’s camp remain wary, noting that Kwankwaso’s return could disrupt the party’s internal balance. “Barau has emerged as the frontrunner for the 2027 governorship ticket. Kwankwaso’s return could create tension within the ranks,” one source said.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, downplayed Kwankwaso’s political relevance. Speaking after a visit to APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, Ata remarked, “Kwankwaso is no longer politically significant in Kano. His return could spark internal crisis—unless endorsed by Ganduje.”

He continued, “I was in the House of Assembly in 1999 when he was governor. He is no longer a strong force in Kano. We have no agreement with him unless the party’s national leadership says otherwise.”

Echoing similar sentiments, the Kano APC Youth and Students Council (KASASCO), through its Director-General, Yahaya Kabo, said Kwankwaso’s influence had diminished and that the APC should not serve as a refuge for “spent political forces.”

Nonetheless, Ganduje remained open to the idea of reconciliation. “APC is committed to expanding democracy. If Kwankwaso wants to return, we are ready to welcome him. It’s only natural to provide shelter to your own,” he said.

On the other hand, the NNPP in Kano dismissed the defection rumours as unfounded. The state party chairman, Dr. Hashimu Sulaiman Dungurawa, said there had been no formal indication of Kwankwaso’s plans.

“I’ve only seen the rumours online. If there’s any truth to them, Kwankwaso will speak at the right time,” Dungurawa said.