A member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has revealed that former Kano governor and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has not ruled out joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jibrin, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, said discussions remain open between Kwankwaso and the ruling party.
“As far as that [joining APC] is concerned, he has always maintained that his doors are open, our doors are open for discussions. Everything is a possibility,” Jibrin stated.
Kano politics and vested interests
Talks about Kwankwaso, who contested against President Bola Tinubu in 2023, moving to the APC have lingered in recent months.
While such speculations cooled down, Jibrin stressed that the door “is not closed. He has never said it is closed.”
Pressed on what might be delaying the move, the Chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Habitat pointed to political rivalry in Kano.
“Even within the APC in Kano, you may have a situation where some vested interest won’t want us to come in, maybe because of their own interest — somebody wanting to be governor or whatever else,” he said.
Kwankwasiyya’s influence still strong
According to Jibrin, the Kwankwasiyya Movement led by Kwankwaso remains a formidable political force in Nigeria and cannot be ignored in future permutations.
The lawmaker, a known ally of Tinubu, has been seen with the president on several occasions, sparking rumours that he might defect to the APC.
Although he did not confirm such a move, Jibrin said: “Well, I keep saying everything is a possibility.”
Jibrin: I make my own decisions
Jibrin also clarified his personal stance, noting that while he remains a Kwankwasiyya, he does not need Kwankwaso’s consent to leave the NNPP.
“No, at my age, I think I’m old enough to make decisions for myself,” said the lawmaker, who represents Kiru/Bebeji Constituency in Kano State.
In the 2023 elections, Kwankwaso polled 1,496,687 votes to finish fourth. Tinubu secured victory with 8,794,726 votes, Atiku Abubakar followed with 6,984,520, while Peter Obi came third with 6,101,533 votes.
