Kwankwaso Gives Conditions for Possible Return to APC

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has said his party is open to returning to the All Progressives Congress (APC) but only under what he called “strong promises.”

Kwankwaso made the remarks on Friday while hosting Buhari Bakwana, former political adviser to ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, along with APC members from the 44 local government areas of Kano State at his residence on Miller Road, Kano. He reminded his visitors of the sacrifices made in building the APC in 2013, stressing that he and other governors who formed the party endured intense political persecution.

“Nobody in this country will tell me the burden we carried in creating APC. We were the first seven governors to openly support it, and we faced ICPC, EFCC, and police harassment because of it,” he said.

The NNPP leader added that any conversation about a return to APC must be based on clearly defined benefits for his party. “If you are asking us to join APC, you must tell us what NNPP will gain. We have gubernatorial candidates across the country and a strong national structure. What will you offer them if we join?” he asked.

Kwankwaso also recounted the frustrations of past alliances, accusing both APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of betraying agreements. He said eight years of APC under former President Muhammadu Buhari brought no recognition for his contributions, while the PDP failed to meet even modest requests.

Despite this, he expressed willingness to engage in fresh negotiations but insisted his party would not be used as a stepping stone. “We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us,” he declared.