Former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has opened up on the conditions that could make him leave the party for either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking on Thursday during an interaction with his supporters, the former Kano State governor said he remains committed to the NNPP but would not rule out returning to APC or PDP if there are firm assurances that he and his political associates will be valued.
Kwankwaso, who was the NNPP’s presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general election, reminded his supporters that he was among the founding leaders of the APC.
However, he claimed he left the ruling party because he and his loyalists were sidelined throughout the eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
READ ALSO: Kwankwaso Speaks On Leaving NNPP Ahead Of 2027 Election
“We are the ones who established the APC. We challenged the federal government then and faced many threats from the EFCC, ICPC, police, SSS, and others. But during APC’s eight years under Buhari, we were not given anything, not even a ‘thank you,’ because our faction of the PDP didn’t start with them,” Kwankwaso lamented.
On his exit from the PDP, the NNPP leader said he was also neglected in the party, noting that even a zonal chairman position was not considered for him and his supporters.
“When we left for PDP, even PDP couldn’t give us a Zonal Chairman. They thought if we left, we would enter a bush and die. After we left the party, we gained value, and now we have value. Whoever you are, if you mention Nigerian politicians, you must mention Kwankwaso,” he declared.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, Kwankwaso insisted he is not desperate to dump the NNPP but stressed that any move to join another political platform must be based on concrete agreements and guarantees.
READ ALSO: Defections To APC Is The ‘Worst Political Sin’- Kwankwaso
“If you say we should join APC, we agree to it, but tell us what the NNPP will get. Give us the answer, and we will agree to join, but don’t take us back to when we were neglected,” he stated.
He added that he is open to alliances with both APC and PDP if they are willing to work with him truthfully and avoid the mistakes of the past.
“We’re not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we’re happy. However, if there is anyone who wants to work with us truthfully and will not abandon us as before, we are ready. Even if the PDP comes back and says they made a mistake and will do this and that, let’s make promises where everyone can see them,” Kwankwaso said.
