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By Oscar Okhifo
Former Kano State governor and leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has not ruled out the possibility of aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), his close ally, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has revealed.
Jibrin, a federal lawmaker and chieftain of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, disclosed this during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday.
He stated that there is “everything possible” about ongoing conversations between Kwankwaso and APC stakeholders, stressing that the door has not been closed on the matter.
“The doors are open. Everything is a possibility. Kwankwaso has not shut the door on joining the APC,” Jibrin affirmed.
However, he acknowledged that certain political interests within Kano’s APC chapter could pose stumbling blocks to such a move. He explained that entrenched rivalries and governorship ambitions in the party may lead some groups to resist Kwankwaso’s entry.
“The only potential problem will come from those in the APC with their own vested interests. But for Kwankwaso, nothing is off the table,” Jibrin added.
Kwankwaso, who commands the loyalty of the influential Kwankwasiyya Movement, remains a dominant figure in Kano politics. His next political move is widely considered critical to the build-up ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly in the North.
While clarifying his own position, Jibrin said he still identifies with Kwankwasiyya but reserves the right to make independent political decisions.
“At my age, I am old enough to make decisions for myself,” he said, though he did not confirm whether he would personally defect to APC.
The unfolding scenario also raises a lingering question: can Kwankwaso and his long-time political rival, Abdullahi Ganduje, co-exist under the same APC umbrella? Their rivalry has defined Kano politics for nearly a decade, and any attempt to force them into one fold could ignite a fresh battle for dominance. Where that supremacy contest will leave the duo and the party itself, is uncertain.
What is certain is that the days and months ahead, as 2027 draws closer, will test both men’s political survival and the cohesion of the APC in ways never seen before.