The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has taken a swipe at its former presidential candidate and ex-Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The party accused him of betrayal after he criticised defectors from his Kwankwassiya Movement for joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso, who also served as Minister of Defence, had labelled the actions of his loyalists as a betrayal of trust. His statement followed the defection of Senator Abdulrahman Kawu (Kano South) and several federal lawmakers from Kano State to the APC.
In a press release issued on Monday in Lagos, NNPP’s factional national chairman, Agbo Major, stated that Kwankwaso no longer has the right to speak on behalf of the party. According to him, the party expelled Kwankwaso and his loyalists, led by Dr Ahmed Ajuji, after the 2023 elections.
“Kwankwaso is no longer a member of NNPP,” Major said. “He cannot accuse others of betrayal when he tried to hijack the party.”
Major further clarified that the Kwankwassiya Movement is not a political party but a group brought into NNPP during the 2023 general elections. Their entry into the party, he added, was based on a temporary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which NNPP has since terminated.
Moreover, he stressed that the group’s members, as Nigerian citizens, are free to join any political party of their choice, including the APC.
Kwankwaso Tried to Hijack the Party, Says NNPP
Major did not hold back in his criticism. He alleged that Kwankwaso attempted to dominate the NNPP after receiving the presidential ticket without offering any financial support.
“He lost respect when he tried to control the party that trusted him,” Major said. “He bit the fingers that fed him.”
Furthermore, he argued that the wave of defections to the APC shows that Kwankwaso has lost influence, not just in the party but also within his own movement.
“These defections prove he no longer has control,” Major said. “His political career effectively ended with his expulsion.”
He advised Kwankwaso to either register a new political party or join another existing one, rather than criticising others who have moved forward.
Interestingly, Major suggested that Kwankwaso could even return to the APC under the leadership of Senator Abdullahi Ganduje.
“Instead of attacking his former allies, he should embrace Ganduje’s open-mindedness and return as a regular party member,” he added.
As tensions rise, analysts believe this fallout may weaken the Kwankwassiya Movement’s hold in Kano and other parts of northern Nigeria. Whether Kwankwaso rebounds politically or fades into the background remains to be seen.
