Ganduje: Kwankwaso Can Only Return to APC on One Condition
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu Democracy Newsline Newspaper
September 27, 2025
Abuja, Nigeria —
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, his longtime political rival, can only return to the ruling party under one strict condition: full adherence to the party’s constitution and no special treatment.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with BBC Hausa, Ganduje addressed recent rumors surrounding Kwankwaso’s alleged overtures to the APC leadership. While Kwankwaso has publicly denied any plans to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), political analysts have speculated that he may be exploring options ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The APC is not a party that bends its rules for anyone,” Ganduje said. “If Kwankwaso wants to return, he must accept the party’s constitution, procedures, and face the consequences of his past decisions.”
In a characteristically sharp tone, Ganduje likened any return by Kwankwaso to “licking his own vomit” — a Hausa proverb implying humiliation and regret. According to Ganduje, the former Kano governor must show remorse for abandoning the APC and acknowledge the political consequences of doing so.
Ganduje–Kwankwaso rivalry is one of Nigeria’s most enduring political feuds. Once close allies under the defunct ANPP and later the PDP, their relationship soured during Ganduje’s tenure as Kwankwaso’s deputy between 2011 and 2015.
Kwankwaso later defected to the PDP and ran unsuccessfully for president in 2019, before floating the NNPP in 2022 — a party that handed him a surprising political revival in the 2023 elections, especially in Kano State, where the APC suffered significant losses.
Ganduje, who remains a powerful figure in Kano politics despite his replacement as APC national chairman, disclosed that the party has now resolved its internal crises in the state. He said recent strategic meetings in Abuja were aimed at evaluating the party’s performance in the 2023 elections and laying the groundwork for a stronger showing in 2027.
“We’ve reviewed our setbacks, reconciled aggrieved factions, and we are united in our goal to reclaim Kano and consolidate APC’s national dominance,” Ganduje stated.
He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, dismissing widespread rumors of a rift between the two political veterans.
“There’s no problem between me and Mr. President. We are in close contact and share a mutual commitment to strengthening the party and delivering governance.”
Speculation Around Kwankwaso’s Future
Political watchers believe that Kwankwaso’s position in the NNPP may have become uncertain following internal leadership tussles and court battles over the party’s structure. Some insiders claim he is weighing his options, especially with the 2027 presidential race on the horizon.
However, Kwankwaso recently described claims of reaching out to the APC as “baseless and politically motivated,” accusing opponents of trying to weaken the NNPP’s growing influence.
Despite his denial, Ganduje’s remarks suggest that the door may not be entirely closed — but it would not be an easy walk back.
APC’s Strategy Moving Forward
With 2027 fast approaching, the APC appears focused on consolidating power in strategic states like Kano, where the party suffered a surprising defeat in 2023. Party leaders believe a unified APC could overturn the NNPP’s narrow gains and restore the ruling party’s dominance.
Still, whether Kwankwaso will consider returning to the party he once helped build — and whether he would be welcomed by the party’s rank and file — remains a question only time and political expediency will answer.
