Reports have emerged that former New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has held a meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to conclude plans to join the ruling party.
According to Daily Trust, sources disclosed that Kwankwaso, a former Kano State Governor, had written to the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja informing the party of his intention to join the party.
Another source at the APC secretariat in Abuja said Kwankwaso and the ruling party’s national chairman have been holding talks in respect of the NNPP’s chieftain expected defection and that plans have reached advanced stage.
“As a party, we will abide by whatever decision the leaders feel is in the interest of the party,” the source added.
Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya movement was the force behind the NNPP winning both in the presidential and governorship elections in Kano State, in which Abba Kabir Yusuf defeated Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of the APC.
A reliable source within the Kano APC told Daily Trust that Kwankwaso has submitted a set of conditions for his return to the ruling party.
The source said the letter was forwarded to the APC national leadership in Abuja, rather than the Kano chapter, due to his lingering rivalry with the state leadership of the party.
“We are aware of the letter he submitted but it’s not something we can discuss now. If he is coming, we have nothing against that, he is welcome.
“From what we know, he submitted it in Abuja, not in Kano. Whatever the case, once everything is finalised, it will be made public,” the source said.
Part of the conditions include allowing his mentee, the current governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to fly the APC ticket in the governorship election while he is given a prominent position in the next APC government.
Some credible sources close to Governor Yusuf said their principal is ready to move.
“Our governor has no objection at all.
“He is only waiting for the green light from his mentor,” a source said.
Speaking to Daily Trust, the APC National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed reports of the letter, saying it’s all speculation.
However, he said the party is ready to welcome Kwankwaso and any other politician who is willing to abide by its progressive ideology and ready to work for the party’s interest.
He said, “I don’t know anything concerning the submission of a letter by Kwankwaso to the secretariat.”
On whether the APC is secretly negotiations with Kwankwaso, Ibrahim said, “Not to my knowledge. All these are in the realm of speculations.”
