Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former Governor of Kano State and National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has formally announced his resignation from the party with immediate effect.
The departure of the influential political figure follows weeks of heightened tension within the “Kwankwasiyya” movement, triggered by the defection of his political protégé, the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Kwankwaso had previously voiced strong opposition to the Governor’s transition, explicitly characterising the move as an act of betrayal.
In a formal statement released on Sunday, Mr Kwankwaso expressed his profound gratitude for the opportunity to have steered the affairs of the NNPP as its National Leader and to have represented the party as its Presidential Candidate during the 2023 General Elections.
“As a committed and bona fide member of the party, this was not an easy decision to make,” the statement read. “However, considering the current trajectory of the nation’s political landscape, which calls for strategic realignment, I have found it necessary to identify with another political platform that offers the best opportunity to effectively change the nation.”
The former Governor confirmed that he intends to formally register with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday. He asserted that the coalition-based structure of the ADC provides a superior framework for the effective transformation of the Nigerian state.
In a public notice disseminated by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, supporters and members of the public were invited to witness the Senator’s official registration ceremony at the ADC headquarters. Mr Kwankwaso’s decision is understood to be the culmination of several weeks of high-level consultations with ADC stakeholders and prominent opposition figures, including recent meetings held in Kano.
The shift in allegiance aligns with Mr Kwankwaso’s previously articulated conditions for future political participation. On 3rd January 2026, while addressing a delegation of supporters at his Kano residence, the Senator made it clear that his loyalty to any political platform was predicated on the availability of a high-level mandate.
“I have made it categorically clear that I will only join a coalition that considers me as either the presidential or vice-presidential candidate,” he stated at the time.
By transitioning to the ADC, Mr Kwankwaso appears to be positioning himself at the heart of a burgeoning opposition realignment aimed at the 2027 electoral cycle. Despite his exit, the Senator extended his thanks to the NNPP leadership and the Kwankwasiyya Movement for their sustained dedication to their shared mission throughout his tenure.
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