Strong indications emerged yesterday that former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is in talks with the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda on plans to join the ruling party.
Sources within the APC in Kano, said Kwankwaso had written to the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja informing the party of his intention to join the party.
A source at the APC secretariat in Abuja said Kwankwaso and the APC national chairman have been holding talks in respect of the former’s expected defection and that plans have reached advanced stage.
He said this is sequel to a meeting the former Kano governor had with the presidency on the matter.
“As a party, we will abide by whatever decision the leaders feel is in the interest of the party,” the source added.
Kwankwaso was the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 presidential elections and was the force behind the party winning both in the presidential and governorship elections in the state, in which Abba Kabir Yusuf defeated Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of the APC.
A reliable source within the Kano APC said that Kwankwaso has submitted a set of conditions for his return to the ruling party.
The source said the letter was forwarded to the APC national leadership in Abuja, rather than the Kano chapter, due to his lingering rivalry with the state leadership of the party.
“We are aware of the letter he submitted but it’s not something we can discuss now. If he is coming, we have nothing against that, he is welcome,” the source said.
“From what we know, he submitted it in Abuja, not in Kano. Whatever the case, once everything is finalised, it will be made public,” the source added.
Pundits say by writing to the party, the former NNPP presidential candidate may have concluded on his next line of action ahead 2027.
Part of the conditions according to our source include allowing his mentee, the current governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to fly the APC ticket in the governorship election while he is given a prominent position in the next APC government.
Even though sources close to Kwankwaso refused to open up on how far they have gone with the preparation of moving to the APC, some credible sources close to Governor Yusuf said their principal is ready to move.
“Our governor has no objection at all,” one of the sources said.
“He is only waiting for the green light from his mentor,” he said.
