The national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has set clear conditions for any political merger involving his party or other political platforms, insisting that he must be offered either the presidential or vice-presidential slot.
Kwankwaso, a two-term former governor of Kano State, made this known while addressing groups of supporters at his Miller Road residence in Kano over the weekend. He said any party or coalition seeking a merger with the NNPP must be ready to make concrete political concessions, including accommodating him as either the number one or number two candidate.
Speaking during the gathering, Kwankwaso also reacted to reports of an alleged plan by Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He denied claims of any pact between himself and the governor to join the ruling party and reiterated his opposition to such a move.
The former Minister of Defence said he did not support Governor Yusuf’s reported plan to defect, stressing that taking a hard-earned electoral victory to a rival party would be deeply painful. He criticised those allegedly encouraging the governor to leave the NNPP, arguing that they should also have advised him to relinquish his mandate before joining the APC.
“I am not party to it, and I am not in support of the purported move to defect from the party. It is important that everyone knows this,” Kwankwaso said. He warned that such a move would amount to handing over the party’s mandate to its political rival and former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Kwankwaso said while he hoped the governor and others considering defection would reconsider their decision, the party would move on if they chose to leave. He urged his supporters to continue engaging those involved and to pray that they rethink their position.
On broader political alignments, Kwankwaso disclosed that the APC-led Federal Government had reached out to him and the NNPP in the past, but said discussions failed because his questions about what the party and its supporters stood to gain were not satisfactorily answered.
He rejected claims that the NNPP was a regional party, insisting that it has structures and offices across the country. According to him, the party’s immediate focus is to consolidate its stronghold in Kano and gradually expand its influence to other states ahead of the 2027 general election.
Addressing concerns about internal crises within the NNPP, Kwankwaso dismissed such claims, noting that the party had successfully conducted ward, local government, state, zonal and national congresses. He described suggestions that the party was unstable as excuses by those looking for reasons to leave.
Looking ahead to 2027, Kwankwaso said the NNPP remained open to mergers and alliances at the national level, but only on terms that recognise its strength and leadership. He reiterated that any merger must guarantee him either the presidential or vice-presidential ticket.
He further argued that winning elections was not solely about controlling state governors and political elites, but about earning the support of the masses. Kwankwaso said the 2027 elections would be a contest between the people and leaders who had failed to improve their welfare despite having the opportunity to do so.
Kwankwaso expressed confidence that recent political developments in Kano had further strengthened the NNPP, noting that many residents value dignity, integrity and justice over political intimidation or pressure.
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