2027: I’ll Defect Only for Presidential, VP Ticket – Kwankwaso.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
January 4, 2026.
The National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has declared that he would only consider defecting to another political party ahead of the 2027 general elections if offered either the presidential or vice-presidential ticket, insisting that anything short of that would amount to political disrespect to him and the millions of Nigerians who believe in the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Kwankwaso made the declaration on Wednesday while addressing a large gathering of NNPP supporters, party leaders and members of the Kwankwasiyya caucus at his residence in Kano.
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The meeting, which drew supporters from across Kano State and beyond, was convened amid growing speculation about possible defections by key political figures in the state.
Speaking with characteristic firmness, the former Kano State governor said his political journey of over four decades had earned him a place among the country’s top leadership contenders, stressing that his followers nationwide would not accept a move to any party that did not recognise his political weight.
“I have been in politics for more than forty years. My people across Nigeria know my value, and they will only accept a defection if it is for the presidency or the vice-presidency in 2027,” Kwankwaso said to loud cheers from the crowd.
He disclosed that leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had approached him to rejoin the ruling party but failed to make any concrete offer that aligned with his political standing or the interests of NNPP leaders and supporters.
“They invited us, and we told them clearly: if we are coming, what are you giving us? Is it appointments? How many? Which one fits me? Which one fits our national chairman and party executives, who are people of value? They could not answer these questions,” he said.
Kwankwaso used the occasion to reaffirm the NNPP’s ideological commitment to Kwankwasiyya, describing it as a people-oriented movement rooted in social justice, youth empowerment and pro-poor policies. According to him, the movement remains focused on employment generation, access to quality education, economic prosperity, improved healthcare delivery and sustainable agricultural development.
“This is not about options one, two or three anymore. This is a national struggle. Kano State must remain united so that we can win again in the next elections,” he said, warning party members against internal divisions and political shortcuts.
However, the meeting took a more emotional turn when Kwankwaso addressed reports of an alleged plan by Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to defect to the APC. The NNPP leader described the move as shocking, painful and a betrayal of the collective struggle that brought the party to power in the state.
According to him, the governor neither consulted him nor offered any convincing explanation for such a far-reaching decision.
“This is a lesson for all of us. We thought everyone understood what we fought for. We never expected this kind of betrayal,” Kwankwaso said solemnly.
“After all the sacrifices and the hard work to rescue Kano from Ganduje and the APC, you are now handing the governorship back to him free of charge. That is the most painful part.”
He recalled the intense political battles that led to the NNPP’s victory in Kano, noting that the struggle was not just about winning power but about restoring dignity, accountability and people-focused governance in the state.
Kwankwaso urged his supporters to remain calm, disciplined and prayerful, warning against violence or inflammatory reactions.
“We want to give you an assignment. First, continue praying for them. Secondly, if any of you are in contact with them, tell them to stop. This struggle is bigger than any individual,” he said.
In a show of solidarity, leaders of the Kwankwasiyya caucus present at the meeting passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Kwankwaso’s leadership and declared that they were not leaving the NNPP under any circumstances.
They reaffirmed their loyalty to the party and its ideology, insisting that the movement remains the strongest political force in Kano State and a rising national platform ahead of 2027.
Political observers say Kwankwaso’s statement signals a decisive moment in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, as alliances begin to shift ahead of the next general elections. With Kano remaining a strategic electoral battleground, the decisions taken by key actors in the coming months are expected to have far-reaching implications for both state and national politics.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 4TH 2026)
