Photo: Rabiu Kwankwaso
By: Mandy Park
The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed speculations about an imminent political realignment, insisting that no final decision has been taken regarding his next move or that of his political associates.
In a statement issued on Sunday titled “Clarification on My Political Position,” the former Kano State governor addressed growing media reports linking him to a possible exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), amid the party’s lingering legal disputes.
Kwankwaso noted that although the Supreme Court recently affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC), it also referred aspects of the dispute back to the High Court for further adjudication.
He added that a Federal High Court ruling has since questioned the validity of the party’s most recent convention, while the Attorney General of the Federation has reportedly initiated moves seeking the deregistration of the ADC.
According to him, the unfolding legal uncertainties mirror the challenges that forced his earlier exit from the NNPP.
“We left the NNPP due to externally influenced legal problems that made our stay perilous. The ADC has now also been drawn into similar difficulties,” he said.
The former senator disclosed that he and his political allies have commenced broad consultations with leaders of other political platforms, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), as part of efforts to safeguard their political interests and chart a viable path forward.
He, however, stressed that any decision arising from the consultations would be formally communicated at the appropriate time.
On the 2027 presidential election, Kwankwaso cautioned against premature speculation, stating that he has neither declared an intention to run under the ADC nor endorsed any aspirant. He noted that the party has yet to make critical decisions regarding zoning or candidate selection.
Reaffirming his reputation as a party loyalist and team player, Kwankwaso recalled his role in previous political contests.
He pointed out that he came second in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in 2014 and subsequently supported the eventual winner, Muhammadu Buhari. Similarly, after contesting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket in 2019, he backed Atiku Abubakar and coordinated his campaign efforts in Northern Nigeria.
Kwankwaso also explained his absence from recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings, attributing it to unavoidable personal commitments, which he said were duly communicated to the party leadership.
He reassured his supporters that he remains committed to democratic engagement and national development, urging the public to rely only on official channels for accurate updates on his political position.
Political analysts say Kwankwaso’s measured stance reflects the fluid nature of Nigeria’s opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, with ongoing coalition talks and internal party crises expected to shape new alliances in the months ahead.
