In a dramatic political twist that could reshape Kano’s power dynamics ahead of the 2027 elections, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has declared that the door remains wide open for former governor and political rival, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to return to the ruling party.
Ganduje made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Yusuf Musa Ata — himself a former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly — at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
“Kwankwaso is like a fish out of water, struggling to find his way back to relevance,” Ganduje told journalists. “We cannot say we won’t accommodate him. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Politics is dynamic, and if he chooses to return, we will welcome him back.”
Describing himself as a “big brother in a big home,” Ganduje stressed that it was both morally and politically right to offer shelter to those seeking it — a clear metaphor aimed at his once-ally-turned-foe.
“When your son runs to where he can find shelter, would you shut him out? We are building bridges, not burning them,” Ganduje added, hinting at an open reconciliation strategy.
His comments come amid mounting speculation that Kwankwaso — a towering figure in Kano politics and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) — may be reconsidering his political alignment due to internal cracks within the NNPP and shifting political tides.
While the APC appears to be keeping its arms open, not everyone within the party is enthusiastic about the potential reunion.
Minister Yusuf Ata, who pledged unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu, voiced his reservations. “For me, I would rather Kwankwaso stays where he is. But if the party leadership decides otherwise, I have no choice but to abide,” Ata stated.
Nonetheless, he reaffirmed his commitment to delivering Kano to the APC in the next general election. “We are strongly behind President Tinubu and are working tirelessly to secure Kano for him in 2027,” he said.
The Kwankwasiyya movement, once a formidable political force in Northern Nigeria, is reportedly losing grip in Kano as internal disputes threaten to fracture its unity. Kwankwaso’s future remains uncertain as whispers of defection grow louder — yet, no official declaration has been made.
For now, all eyes remain on the red-capped political gladiator — will he return to the fold he once left, or chart a new course entirely?
PIONEER NEWS 