Former Kano State governor and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is poised to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday, following weeks of strategic consultations and high-level engagements.
In a move widely interpreted as a calculated step toward building a formidable opposition bloc ahead of the 2027 general elections, Kwankwaso held a crucial meeting on Saturday with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, in Abuja. The meeting is believed to be part of broader efforts to consolidate opposition forces against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sources familiar with the development revealed that the planned defection is the culmination of sustained dialogue between Kwankwaso, key figures within his influential Kwankwasiyya movement, and leaders of the ADC. The former presidential candidate has, in recent weeks, intensified consultations across political divides, signaling a shift in allegiance that could redefine opposition politics in Nigeria.
Among those he has engaged are prominent stakeholders including Rauf Aregbesola, Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde, and Seriake Dickson. These meetings are seen as part of a coordinated effort to forge a united opposition front capable of challenging the APC’s dominance.
Kwankwaso also recently convened a meeting with party stakeholders in Kano State, further underlining his commitment to grassroots consultations before making the anticipated political leap.
The unfolding realignment comes amid internal turbulence within the NNPP, particularly following the defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to the APC. Yusuf, once regarded as Kwankwaso’s political protégé and a key beneficiary of the Kwankwasiyya movement, made the controversial switch alongside several lawmakers and political appointees.
Kwankwaso has openly distanced himself from the move, describing it as a betrayal and a deviation from the ideological foundations of the movement he built.
