“There’s a Price for Betrayal” — Kwankwaso Warns Defectors, Takes Swipe at Senator Sumaila’s Camp

The National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and 2023 presidential candidate, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has issued a stern warning to politicians defecting from the opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that “there is always a price for betrayal.”

Kwankwaso, who spoke at his Miller Road residence in Kano, made the remark while receiving supporters of Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, led by Sunusi Hukuma, who paid him a solidarity visit after their principal’s dramatic defection to the APC.

Kwankwaso, visibly charged, said the NNPP would not be shaken by recent defections, stressing that the Kwankwasiyya movement remains a fortress for integrity, loyalty, and service to the people.

> “Those who were voted for by the poor—people who refused to be bribed—have unfortunately betrayed those same poor people after collecting money. But I assure you, the time of judgment will soon come. There is a price for betrayal,” he declared.
He commended the visiting group for refusing to follow Sumaila to the ruling party, describing them as “true disciples of the struggle.”

> “Kwankwasiyya is not a business venture or a money-sharing association. It is a movement for reasoning minds—those who believe in justice, fairness, and the upliftment of the poor,” Kwankwaso said.

Earlier, Sunusi Hukuma, who led the delegation, publicly distanced his group from Senator Sumaila’s defection, saying their loyalty remains firmly with Kwankwaso and the NNPP.

> “We supported him because he joined the Kwankwasiyya movement and won on its platform,” Hukuma said. “The moment he abandoned us, we withdrew our support.”

In a symbolic show of allegiance, Hukuma and his followers removed their old caps and replaced them with the iconic red caps of the Kwankwasiyya movement, chanting solidarity songs and pledging unflinching loyalty to Kwankwaso.

> “We will stand by Kwankwasiyya and resist every attempt to deceive us. We will also work against Sumaila’s political ambitions in the future,” Hukuma vowed.

Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, who left the APC in 2022 to join the NNPP and later won the Kano South senatorial seat, recently returned to the ruling APC, pledging support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies.

His defection has further deepened political divisions in Kano, a state long known for its vibrant and often polarised political atmosphere.

Analysts say Sumaila’s return to the APC mirrors a broader trend of defections nationwide, as politicians realign ahead of the 2027 general elections. The APC, which currently controls 24 of Nigeria’s 36 states, has been intensifying efforts to consolidate power across the northern region.

Kwankwaso, a former two-term governor of Kano State and an influential figure in northern politics, reiterated that the NNPP remains focused on building a political culture rooted in values, education, and empowerment of the masses.

> “Under Kwankwasiyya, the poor have learned they don’t need money or gifts to vote. They now know that dignity, integrity, and progress cannot be bought,” he said.

As chants of “Sai Kwankwaso!” echoed across the courtyard, the NNPP leader waved to the cheering crowd, signaling what many see as the beginning of a renewed political battle for Kano South’s soul ahead of 2027.