Former APC chairman sets conditions for possible reconciliation
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ex-Governor of Kano State, has said that while the party is open to welcoming back Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, any return must be done in line with the party’s rules and constitution.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Ganduje made it clear that the APC is a structured organization and would not offer preferential treatment to politicians seeking to return after defecting.
“The APC is open to anyone who wants to return, but they must follow the constitution. We don’t bend rules for anyone,” Ganduje stated.
Kwankwaso defection rumors resurface
Speculation has swirled in recent weeks about the possibility of Senator Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), rejoining the APC. Some reports alleged that he had made overtures to the newly appointed APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to discuss a possible defection.
However, Kwankwaso himself has firmly denied the claims, calling them “baseless” and “mischievous.” He has consistently maintained that he remains committed to building the NNPP as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s political space.
For more on Kwankwaso’s political career, see his biography on Britannica.
“It would be like licking his vomit” — Ganduje
Ganduje, who has a long and complicated political history with Kwankwaso, said any attempt by the former Kano governor to rejoin APC would be symbolic of a political reversal.
“Returning to APC would be like licking his vomit,” Ganduje said, using a Hausa idiom to emphasize the need for reflection and repentance from those who previously abandoned the party.
He added that politicians who left the APC for other platforms must also face the consequences of their decisions, especially if those moves weakened the party’s chances in past elections.
APC in Kano is united and ready for 2027, says Ganduje
On the status of the APC in Kano State, Ganduje stated that the party had successfully resolved internal divisions that plagued it before the 2023 general elections. He noted that recent stakeholders’ meetings in Abuja had provided an opportunity for the party to evaluate its performance and plan for the future.
“We reviewed our losses in the 2023 elections, but more importantly, we united behind President Bola Tinubu’s vision,” he said.
Ganduje dismissed speculation of a rift between himself and President Tinubu, saying their relationship is intact and that the Kano chapter of APC is fully aligned with the presidency’s policies.
“I remain a strong ally of President Tinubu. There’s no misunderstanding between us,” he clarified.
The road to 2027: APC eyes Kano comeback
Ganduje reiterated that the APC is determined to reclaim Kano State in the upcoming 2027 general elections, a state currently under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP. He expressed confidence that the party, now more cohesive, is better positioned to win back the state through grassroots mobilization and strategic planning.
Kano remains a political powerhouse in Nigeria with one of the largest voting populations. The battle for control of the state is expected to be fierce in 2027, especially given the rivalry between the Ganduje and Kwankwaso political camps.
