Kwankwaso, Kano’s Strongman, Zooms Into ADC
• Thus putting an end to weeks of speculation over his political future
By PHC Telegraph
The Leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on Monday in Kano zoomed into the warm embrace of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, thus ending weeks of widespread speculation over his political future.
The Kano-born politician a couple of days ago pulled out of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP as the re-calibration of the nation’s political landscape in readiness for the 2027 general election took a new turn. He had cited the need for political realignment on that occasion.
Also following in his father’s footsteps, Kwankwaso’s son, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, resigned from the NNPP, signaling a complete migration of the Kwankwasiyya political structure.
The atmosphere at Kwankwaso’s Miller Road residence was electric, according to newspaper reports.
Thousands of supporters who wore red caps, a major distinguishing feature of the Kwankwasiyya movement, swarmed the streets, chanting “Sarkin Yaki”.
On had to welcome the Kano strong man into the fold was a powerful delegation of ADC national officials led by Senator David Mark, the National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary.
Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria’s former Transportation Minister under the Buhari administration, Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, were among political bigwigs of the opposition coalition who were in Kano to receive the big fish.
Speaking, Kwankwaso described the move as a “strategic realignment for the salvation of Nigeria,” apparently setting the stage for a dramatic showdown in the forthcoming presidential race.
Multiple sources reveal that the move was prompted by the recent defection of his protégé, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, to the APC.
Kwankwaso had publicly labeled the action of the sitting governor as “betrayal of the highest order.”
From all indications, Kano is effectively a battleground between the APC led by Governor Yusuf and Ganduje, the ADC headed by Kwankwaso, and what is left of the PDP.
Looking at tthe 2027 presidential chessboard, Kwankwaso’s entry into the ADC is the strongest signal yet of a “mega-opposition coalition.”
Prior to his defection, Kwankwaso had hosted Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde and Seriake Dickson in Kano. Following his entry into the ADC, Kwankwaso is seeking to position the ADC as the vehicle that would be needed by Nigerians to wage the anti – Tinubu battle.
Onservers who are watching from the sidelines say by moving to a party with a more national that is gaining increasing acceptability in the South, Kwankwaso is attempting to shed the label of “regional candidate” which hampered his run in 2023.
