Ladipo Johnson, spokesperson for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), revealed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is actively wooing NNPP leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to bolster President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election chances in Kano.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Johnson suggested Tinubu might offer Kwankwaso the vice-presidential slot, vacated by Kashim Shettima, to secure Kano’s 1.5 million votes, which Kwankwaso delivered in 2023 as NNPP’s presidential candidate. The move follows APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje’s resignation on June 27, seen as a strategic sacrifice to ease Kwankwaso’s return, given their rivalry.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano governor and APC senator, commands the Kwankwasiyya movement, controlling 70% of Kano’s electorate. However, APC stalwart Abdulmajid Danbilki Kwamanda warned that Kwankwaso’s return could alienate northern leaders, risking a 20% drop in APC’s 8.8 million 2023 votes.
The APC, holding 20 state governorships, aims to counter Atiku Abubakar’s opposition coalition, which includes PDP and Labour Party factions. Tinubu’s reconciliation of Rivers’ Wike and Fubara signals a broader strategy to unify Nigeria’s 7 million South-South voters. Kwankwaso’s decision, expected by Q4 2025, could shift Nigeria’s electoral landscape, with APC planning a N500 million Kano campaign.