The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed remarks by the National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, that he was open to returning to the APC under certain conditions.
The party’s Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Aruwa, told Arewa Punch that Kwankwaso’s claim was misleading, insisting that the APC neither sought nor welcomed his comeback.
“He disregarded the fact that joining a party has proper channels and procedures.
If Kwankwaso wants to return, he knows how to formally convey that, not through public conditions,” Aruwa said.
Aruwa also faulted Kwankwaso’s assertion that he was among the pioneers of the APC in Kano.
He further stated, “That is not true. It was former governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau who actually led the formation of APC in Kano. Kwankwaso cannot rewrite history.”
According to him, the ruling party would comfortably win the 2027 elections without Kwankwaso’s influence.
“Even in 2023, it was APC that won the election, not the NNPP. We are confident that we will win again in 2027 without him,” he added.
The APC spokesman further alleged that Kwankwaso had previously joined the APC under conditions, warning that such demands would no longer be tolerated.
Aruwa stated, “The conditions we are hearing, that our governorship ticket should be handed over to him or his candidate, are totally unacceptable. The APC already has strong aspirants, Senator Barau Jibrin, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, and AA Zaura, among others. There is no vacancy for Kwankwaso’s conditions.”
Galadima Counters: ‘Kwankwaso Not Planning To Return’
In a swift counter-reaction, Kwankwaso’s long-time ally, Buba Galadima, said the former governor had no intention of rejoining the APC, stressing that his comments had been misinterpreted.
“Nobody will tell Kwankwaso politics. I believe there is a merger, but we are not in a hurry to merge with any party,” Galadima told Arewa PUNCH.
According to him, Kwankwaso was only responding to agitations from some NNPP members who were pushing to defect to the APC.
When asked what conditions Kwankwaso might consider if he eventually chose to return, Galadima refused to elaborate. “I won’t say anything about it because it is not time for that yet,” he said.
Galadima also rejected the APC’s claim that it won the 2023 elections in Kano, describing it as false.
“The APC claimed it won 50,000 votes from Bagwai and Shanono in 2023, but in the recent by-election, they got only 5,000 votes. That tells you who truly has the people’s support,” he argued.
