Revealed: What Kwankwaso demanded from Tinubu that ended defection deal, inside story

The anticipation surrounding former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso potentially joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) in preparation for the 2027 elections has declined following a recent private meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Both sides have kept details of their discussion under wraps, leading to speculation about terms and conditions that may have been turned down by either party.

Days later, the leader of Kwankwasiyya Movement openly riticized Tinubu’s administration for what he described as the neglect of the northern region of Nigeria and the concentration of the nation’s resources on developing the southern part of the country where the president comes from.

Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of lopsided allocation of scarce resources between the two regions of the country.

To further fuel the speculation of disagreement, Kwankwaso welcomed thousands of defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into his party in Kano State.

Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, disclosed this on Friday via his official X handle, noting that the event was held at his residence in Kano.

If there is one political heavyweight who has been constantly tipped to join the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, for more than 6 months, and it’s no other the former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party in the 2023 General election.

Those who understand the game of politics know that he’s a big player with many benefits for any political party he chooses to align with because of his legion of followers, especially in the core North (North Central).

Tinubu and Kwankwaso

Top APC members across Nigeria have been wooing Kwakwanso to join the ruling party to solidify their chances in the forthcoming presidential election, considering all the rumours of a Coalition from the opposition, which has become a sudden threat to the ruling party.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met with Kwankwaso. Not once or twice. They have been working on how to work together for 2027, and it is also a known fact that the president is a long-time friend of Kwankwaso. There have been several meetings, but Kwankwaso has made it clear that his demand must be met otherwise, there is no need to defect to the ruling party. Those conditions and demands have not been fully met yet, City People can reveal.

First, he (kwankwaso) wasn’t ready to work with Ganduje as party Chairman but that has been taken care of. He still wants to hold the structure of his state, Kano, and he has a lot at stake relinquishing his ambition to join the APC.

We were told that he also informed the president that if he must move to the APC, then it must be for something tangible that he would be getting in exchange. That’s where the question lies. CityPeople said, Kwankwaso said he would like to be a running candidate for president in the 2027 General election. That he must have a reasonable office to sustain his teeming followers whom he has been nurturing for many years.

Will his demands be met? Some top NNPP chieftains close to Kwankwaso indicated that their defection to the APC would happen once specific details are finalised.

There was initial the fear that created unease among Ganduje, and their supporters, who fear that Kwankwaso might join the APC and take control of the party’s structure in the state. However, President Tinubu is working to ease the tensions with some of the recent adjustments. One of such major adjustments is the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje as APC National Chairman.

Another source also corroborated earlier assumptions about the potential deal between Kwankwaso and the President: “Kwankwaso has made it clear that he will only defect to the APC if he is offered the vice presidency. President Tinubu has considered this option and believes that Kwankwaso’s popularity and acceptability in the North, especially in the key states of Kaduna and Katsina—home to a significant portion of the electoral vote—are major factors to consider.

Just as Vice President Shettima is being rumoured to not run along with President Tinubu in 2027, fueling the Kwankwaso deal with the President.

A top chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Salihu Isa Nataro, a few days ago advised, saying Shettima no longer appears to have the full backing of President Bola Tinubu.

A top source within APC revealed that, the president did not agree with certain conditions from Kwanwaso during the closed-doors meeting.

The lawmakers who represent Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya and Karaye/Rogo Federal Constituencies, both in Kano, anchored their defection on what they called “The internal crisis rocking the NNPP.”

Similarly, a member representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, Osun State, Oluwole Oke, formally announced his defection to the APC.

In attendance at the plenary to show solidarity with the defectors was the former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Additional report from Isaac Abimbade of Citypeople