Former Kano State Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso held fresh talks with African Democratic Congress National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday, in a significant step forward in his much-anticipated defection to the growing opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Following the meeting with Aregbesola, Kwankwaso also held separate discussions with ADC leaders from Kano at his Abuja residence, signalling that the groundwork for his entry into the party is being laid simultaneously at both the national and state levels.
A defection months in the making
Thursday’s meetings are the latest in a series of political consultations that have positioned Kwankwaso as the most high-profile figure yet to formally complete his move to the ADC. The Kwankwasiyya Movement’s spokesperson, Mansur Kurugu, had confirmed earlier this week that Kwankwaso was in active talks with the ADC, expressing optimism that the discussions would culminate in a formal defection before the 2027 election cycle begins in earnest. “It is true that Kwankwaso is in talks with ADC and NDC, and we are optimistic that the leaders will end up adopting one of the parties before the 2027 elections,” Kurugu said.
The latest round of discussions comes shortly after Kwankwaso hosted former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at his residence last Sunday, a gathering widely interpreted as part of opposition alignment ahead of 2027.
Who is already in ADC
The ADC has rapidly transformed from a fringe party into Nigeria’s most consequential opposition platform in the space of months. Peter Obi formally defected to the party earlier this year, along with his supporters, opposition legislators, and several National Assembly members. He joined a roster that already included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, Aminu Tambuwal, Emeka Ihedioha, Rauf Aregbesola, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Abubakar Malami.
A chieftain of the ADC, Ladan Salihu, said Obi’s entry had fundamentally altered Nigeria’s opposition landscape, describing the party as now a credible challenger to the ruling APC.
Kwankwaso’s political background
Kwankwaso’s move comes as his political structure in Kano State shows signs of fracture. Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, a former Kwankwasiyya loyalist, is expected to defect to the APC, a development that has created visible tension within the movement and accelerated Kwankwaso’s search for a new national platform.
Further complicating his situation, a Court of Appeal ruling affirmed the leadership of an NNPP faction led by Agbo Major over a rival faction, deepening internal tensions within the party and prompting renewed conversations about Kwankwaso’s future.
The 2027 picture
Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso finished second, third, and fourth, respectively, in the 2023 presidential election. Their potential convergence under one platform represents a significant consolidation of the opposition vote, which was widely split in 2023 — a split that analysts say handed Tinubu a more comfortable victory than he might otherwise have achieved.
Kwankwaso’s name has featured in opposition calculations as a potential running mate on a joint ADC ticket, though negotiations on the ticket’s composition remain unresolved. His absence from a recent high-profile ADC event drew scrutiny, with analysts suggesting that while public alignment has begun, the private negotiations over structure, roles, and candidate selection are still ongoing.
The APC has not commented on Kwankwaso’s reported plans to defect. The NNPP has not issued a formal statement on the matter as of the time of this report.
A formal announcement of Kwankwaso’s defection to the ADC is expected imminently, with sources close to the process suggesting it could come as early as this weekend. RNN.NG will provide live updates when the announcement is made.