Kwankwaso Draws Line on Merger Talks, Insists on Presidential or VP Ticket

By Yinka Giwa
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has laid down strict conditions for any political merger involving his party, insisting that he must emerge as either presidential or vice-presidential candidate in any such arrangement.

Kwankwaso, a two-term former governor of Kano State, made the position known while addressing supporters at his Miller Road residence in Kano over the weekend.

He also used the occasion to dismiss rumours that Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, was planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting he neither supports nor is part of any such move.

The former Defence Minister said he had publicly opposed the idea of Yusuf leaving the NNPP, warning that it would amount to handing over a hard-earned electoral victory to political rivals aligned with former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

“I am not party to it, and I am not in support of the purported move to defect from the party. It is necessary that everyone knows this,” Kwankwaso said.

He lashed out at those allegedly encouraging the governor to defect, arguing that if such advice were genuine, Yusuf should first be urged to relinquish the mandate secured under the NNPP platform.

“Nothing is as painful as taking our hard-earned victory and government to our rival camp,” he said, adding that while he hopes those involved will rethink their actions, “if they are defiant, life will go on.”

Kwankwaso maintained that the NNPP remains the dominant political force in Kano State and rejected claims that the party is plagued by internal crises, citing the successful conduct of congresses and a national convention.

He revealed that the Federal Government and the APC had reached out to him in the past but failed to offer convincing terms that would protect the interests of the party, its leadership, and supporters.

“At the national level, our hope is to merge with others, whether under NNPP or any other party,” he said. “But those who want that must agree that I, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will be number one or number two.”

Looking ahead to 2027, Kwankwaso dismissed the belief that control of governors and political heavyweights guarantees electoral victory, insisting the next election would be a contest between the masses and leaders who, in his view, failed to deliver meaningful change.

“The 2027 election is between the people and those who had the opportunity to change their lives but chose instead to serve themselves,” he said.