Defection: Kwankwaso Weighs Options Over 2027 Polls

• Pressure mounts from Tinubu, Atiku, others

BY EDMOND ODOK – With the political space already on auto drive ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) is reportedly weighing options available to make his next big partisan move going forward.

Insider sources close to Kano-born politician, who also leads the popular Kwankwasiyya Movement, hinted that there are ongoing engagements focusing mainly on possible lines of actions to take amid the defection galore into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The sources said some prominent members of NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement are already pushing hard for the former Minister of Defence to either align with Tinubu’s APC or join the coalition currently being muted by Atiku Abubakar-led group, Peter Obi and embattled immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

Addressing what he described as “political undercurrents and gerrymandering”, especially by the APC, one of the competent sources said; “There is no denying the fact that pressure is mounting daily on the NNPP’s Leader to make a move and let his stand known. He is being courted by Mr President as well as other opposition figures in the country. For now, Kwankwaso and his hordes of supporters are all gauging the political atmosphere to determine what steps to take.

“However, the strong sentiments favour the opinion that Kwankwaso and the NNPP should not go solo and do battle independently in 2027 as was the case in the 2023 polls given the changing political dynamics in the country.

“With events in the political landscape unfolding at a rapid pace, options on the table include defecting to President Tinubu’s APC or joining forces with the touted coalition led by Atiku, Peter Obi, el-Rufai, and some aggrieved members of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).”

Speaking in the affirmative that a lot of engagements were ongoing to chart the best way forward, a Chieftain of NNPP, who pleaded anonymity for now, said within the next couple of weeks or months, the scenario on the way to go would become clearer.

“At present, frank discussions are taking place in different quarters and parties involved have laid their cards on the table, even as some are skeptical the proposed coalition may be infiltrated by APC knowing the political savviness of President Tinubu.

Also confirming that there are political options already thrown up for consideration, National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, is quoted in a recent interview as saying; “Well, so far, what I’ll say is this: in the NNPP, we tend to, at least from our own history as the Kwankwasiyya movement, wait till midterm. May 29th will be the midterm for this administration. It will be two years down, and two years to go. That is when we believe that proper politicking will commence.

“So, yes, we are talking, and we’ve been talking. But you’ll recall that at that time, I told you I didn’t want to mention specifically the groups or persons or movements that are in conversation with us. That is still the position now.”

Furthermore, the NNPP’s Sookesperson said; “You’ll recall that there have been many publications in newspapers and online, insinuating that Senator Kwankwaso is moving to the APC, that it is imminent and all that. That is just the nature of the game. Some people are pressing or pushing that narrative for their selfish reasons.

“But the bottom line is that very soon, they will begin to hear from us. We will tell our supporters what we are doing.”

According to Johnson, “There are basically three cards on the table: either we remain in the NNPP and continue with those who joined us all the way or we form some sort of coalition with Atiku, and others; or we form an alliance with the ruling party.

“But I am not saying any of these is the case now. The truth is that these are the three basic options that could happen going forward into the 2027 general elections.”

However, a competent source within the Presidency boasted that the opposition can gather as much as they want but 2027 remains a done deal for APC with President Tinubu’s second term project assured on a platter of gold