(DDM) – Nigeria’s political landscape may be shifting again as speculations intensify that former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is preparing for a dramatic return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
DDM gathered that this possible comeback could be historic, as Kwankwaso may not return alone but alongside Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, in a move that could reshape the balance of power within northern politics and the ruling party.
The claim first emerged from APC chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, who announced on his official Facebook page that Kwankwaso had reportedly written to the APC National Chairman to notify him of his interest to rejoin the fold.
According to Igbokwe, the Kano strongman expressed his desire to come back into the ruling party’s structure and signaled his readiness to work with Governor Abba Yusuf to strengthen the APC ahead of the next general election.
Igbokwe wrote that the development should be seen as a positive sign for the ruling party because, in his words, “the more people defect to APC, the better it is.”
However, DDM notes that Daily Post could not independently confirm this claim at the time of filing this report, as efforts to reach Kwankwaso’s camp proved unsuccessful.
Despite this uncertainty, signs of Kwankwaso’s return to APC have been visible in recent weeks, with Vanguard quoting him during the weekend as declaring that both he and his loyal supporters were prepared to join the ruling party once again.
Kwankwaso, who left APC in the build-up to the 2019 general elections, had contested the 2023 presidency on the platform of the NNPP, a party that he helped revive and reposition as a northern force.
His movement, popularly referred to as the “Kwankwasiyya,” commands widespread grassroots loyalty across Kano State and other parts of northern Nigeria, making him one of the most influential political actors outside of APC and PDP.
During his declaration, Kwankwaso stressed that his political structure would not allow itself to be exploited, used for electoral victories, and later abandoned once offices are secured.
This condition suggests that negotiations between his camp and the APC leadership could revolve around guarantees of relevance, positions, and recognition for his loyalists if the defection goes through.
Analysts believe that Kwankwaso’s return to APC could boost the party’s chances in the North-West, a region that delivered significant votes in 2023 but remains politically volatile.
Governor Abba Yusuf’s possible defection further complicates the political chessboard in Kano, a state that has historically served as the heartbeat of northern politics due to its large voting population and strategic influence.
If the NNPP loses both Kwankwaso and Governor Yusuf to the APC, the party’s momentum in Kano could collapse, returning the state firmly to the ruling party’s grip ahead of 2027.
Kwankwaso’s political career has been marked by frequent realignments, having moved between PDP and APC in the past, each time wielding his influence to extract concessions and carve a stake in national politics.
Observers note that his latest move reflects both his ambition and the rising political calculations as Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 presidential election.
Though his camp has yet to officially confirm the defection, the speculation has triggered widespread debate, with many wondering whether Kwankwaso is positioning himself for another presidential run or bargaining for strategic influence in the APC hierarchy.
For now, the question remains whether the APC will accommodate his demands and whether his loyalists will be guaranteed roles that ensure they are not discarded after electoral usefulness fades.
What is clear, however, is that Kwankwaso remains one of the few northern politicians with the power to shape elections, control mass movements, and redefine alliances in Nigeria’s volatile political arena.
As 2027 approaches, his next political move could mark either the consolidation of APC’s northern dominance or spark another wave of defections that may shift Nigeria’s political equilibrium once more.
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