Former Governor of Kano State, and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
This development comes as Kwankwaso dumped the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), a platform he contested on during the 2023 elections.
Kwankwaso joined the ADC on Monday in KnoState. He also registered with the party and formally picked up his membership card on Monday at Gidan Kwankwasiyya, Miller Road, Bompai, Kano.
The decision follows months of internal friction within the NNPP and high-profile meetings with other opposition figures, including former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, the National Secretary of the ADC, Rauf Aregbesola, and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
Present at the event include ADC National Chairman and former Senate President, David Mark; former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; Senator Dino Melaye; and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, among others.
Kwankwaso, in a statement issued on Sunday had explained that the reason for his resignation from the NNPP was due to the need for political realignment.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Kwankwaso said, “I wish to formally announce my resignation from the New Nigeria Peoples Party with immediate effect.”
The former governor described his exit as a difficult decision, noting his longstanding involvement with the party.
“As a committed and bona fide member of the party, this was not an easy decision to make. However, considering the current trajectory of the nation’s political landscape, which calls for strategic realignment, I have found it necessary to identify with another political platform that offers the best opportunity to effectively change the nation,” he said.
Kwankwaso thanked the party leadership, including the National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, and other organs of the party, for their support during his time in the party.
He also acknowledged members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and supporters for their commitment.
“We shall continue to collaborate and work together towards charting a better and more prosperous future for our dear nation,” he added.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the development comes as the opposition coalition in Nigeria adopted the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Several notable political figures have since joined the party including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi, among others in a push to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
