February 4, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters
KANO, Nigeria — The Kwankwasiyya Movement has firmly rejected recent speculation that its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is in negotiations or discussions to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing such claims as baseless and misleading.
In a statement issued this week by the movement’s spokesperson, Habibu Sale Mohammed, the group said the circulating reports alleging that Kwankwaso has engaged with the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, or proxies over a possible defection are “entirely false, baseless and deliberately misleading.”
The response comes amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly in Kano State, where defections have intensified following the departure of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other influential NNPP members to the APC. Some analysts had speculated that Kwankwaso might follow suit, but the Kwankwasiyya statement refuted such narratives.
According to the movement, Kwankwaso has never entered negotiations, discussions, or meetings with APC representatives or the presidency for the purpose of defection. Mohammed emphasised that Kwankwaso’s last formal engagement with President Tinubu occurred in January 2024, and no talk of party realignment was part of that meeting.
The statement also criticised media and social commentary attributing undue political bargaining to the NNPP leader, urging the public to disregard “speculative reports, commentaries, and televised opinions” that lack verified facts or official confirmation.
Political observers note that the APC has previously indicated openness to welcoming Kwankwaso should he choose to defect, with the party saying its doors are “open” but emphasising that no formal negotiations have taken place. This clarification underscores a distinction between public positioning and official negotiation.
Kwankwaso’s continued leadership of the Kwankwasiyya Movement remains central to his influence in northern Nigerian politics, even as internal party dynamics evolve and defections reshape opposition and ruling party landscapes ahead of elections.