APC Shifts Decision On Kwankwaso’s ‘Stringent Conditions’ To Tinubu

…Shelves Kano Gov’s Defection

The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to be at a crossroads as ongoing alliance talks with former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, appear stalled.

Key APC leaders and stakeholders alike, are said to be fretting over what they consider Kwankwaso’s “endless dithering” and the “stringent conditions” he has attached to his possible defection to the ruling party.

Apparently unsure of how to handle the conditions set for the party by former governor, the APC leadership has reportedly put further discussion on hold, shifting the final decision to President Bola Tinubu who is currently out of the country.

Arising from the apparent deadlock, the party leadership has shelved its plans to receive the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf into the APC till further notice.

The planned defection of Governor Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the APC, had been twice shifted – on January 5 and January 12, 2026, as discussions with Kwankwaso, who is the governor’s mentor, could not be concluded.

Consultations and appeasement moves by the APC leaders to have the Kano strongman and former governor rejoin the party, had been dragging since shortly after the 2023 general election.

Kwankwaso was one of the high profile politicians, who in 2013, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC, then in opposition.

He also dumped the APC in the build up to the 2023 election and had flirted with one or two platforms before pitching his tents with the NNPP.

Kwankwaso ran for president in 2023 on the NNPP platform but lost to the incumbent president, Bola Tinubu, even as he won more than 58 percent of the total Kano State votes, against Tinubu’s seven percent.

Kwankwaso, who is the founder and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, a political force with strong grassroots support, had, at a public event in Kano on Wednesday, restated the conditions for his possible defection to the APC.

“I didn’t say I won’t join APC, but we must first be clearly assured of the future of the Kano State government before we join the APC. What will be the fate of our lawmakers and other supporters before we agree to defect?” Kwankwaso had said.

The former Kano governor had recalled past experiences where he said members of his camp were sidelined after contributing to the victory of the APC at the national and state levels.

“In the past, we joined and contributed to forming the government, but later we were abandoned. That was why we left the party. Have they now changed their position toward us? Everyone knows the role we played at that time,” he added.

The former presidential candidate said any decision to rejoin the APC must be based on concrete agreements, particularly regarding his responsibilities and the future of his supporters, mainly members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

“I will not go to the APC blindly. I must be clearly informed of my role, the direction of the journey, and the fate of our plans for the common people, including the position of our supporters and the Kano State Government. That is my stand,” the ex governor emphasised.

Kwankwaso has continued to insist there will be no deal until he gets assurances guaranteeing the retention of his political structures, including the Kwankwasiyya Movement under any future APC administration in Kano State.

“Up till now, no one has given me a clear assurance that we will be allowed to retain our government and continue with our political structure. I need to know where I stand,” he declared.

But highly placed APC sources have described the conditions set by Kwankwaso as being too complicated, and far beyond what the party leadership can implement.

A chieftain of the APC from one of the states in the North central, analysed the far reaching implications of Kwankwaso’s demands.

According to him, there is no way such conditions can be met without first dismantling existing APC structures in Kano State that are key to the survival of the party in the state.

Preferring anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, the source said what Kwankwaso is asking for, is to have all existing APC structures collapsed and placed under his control.

The source said such a move would set the party leadership at the national level on a collision course with the immediate past APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and incumbent Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau.

Speaking further, he said, “As a former APC national chairman, they all defer to Ganduje as the leader of the party in Kano. That is what his status demands and they give him that respect.

“They also have Senator Jibrin Barau who is the highest ranking elective political office holder from Kano State and who is very close to his constituents and commands considerable grassroots following.

“It is public knowledge that Barau is eyeing the Kano governorship seat in 2027 and he seems to have the blessings of the party leadership, including the president.

“So you don’t imagine that the APC leaders will dismantle these structures for the sake of just one man who doesn’t believe in sharing power with anyone when he is in control,” the source said.

Also, multiple sources familiar with Kano politics, said nothing would make Kwankwaso and Ganduje work amicably together under any platform, as the two former governors share deep mutual resentment towards each other.

Part of the complex situation on ground, is the alleged moves by Kwankwaso to deny Governor Yusuf the 2027 re-election ticket of the NNPP. Multiple sources say the godfather already has a different candidate in mind.

Political analysts say they don’t see the ADC leadership taking a gamble on the governor whose political future appears uncertain without Kwankwaso’s backing, and who may have seen the opportunity to defect to the APC as an escape route.

The APC leaders are reported to have agreed to put the governor’s planned defection in abeyance, pending the conclusion of the the deal with Kwankwaso.

The party’s stance contrasts with Ganduje’s position on the matter. The former chairman had been in the forefront of the forces mounting pressure on the governor to cross over.

But insiders see Ganduje’s eagerness to have Governor Yusuf in the APC more as a move to spite Kwankwaso rather than advancing the cause of the party.