Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, held a meeting on Friday with the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, fueling speculation about Kwankwaso’s possible move to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The two influential politicians were seen together after attending Jumaat prayers at a mosque in Abuja.
El-Rufai, accompanied by his eldest son, Bello El-Rufai, exchanged pleasantries with Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State.
DAILY GAZETTE reports that the meeting comes at a time when there is growing speculation that Kwankwaso and his political allies in the NNPP may soon align with the APC.
Sources familiar with the discussions told DAILY GAZETTE that Kwankwaso and the NNPP are unlikely to contest the 2027 general elections independently, as they did in 2023.
One insider stated, “What I can confirm is that Kwankwaso and the NNPP will not contest independently as they did in the 2023 elections. Considering the current political landscape, they are weighing the possibility of either joining President Tinubu’s APC or aligning with the coalition led by Atiku, el-Rufai, and others.”
Meanwhile, the NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, in an interview, confirmed that conversations about political realignments are indeed ongoing.
He explained, “Well, so far, what I’ll say is this: in the NNPP, we tend to, at least from our own history as the Kwankwasiyya movement, wait till midterm. May 29th will be the midterm for this administration. It will be two years down, and two years to go. That is when we believe that proper politicking will commence.
“So, yes, we are talking, and we’ve been talking. But you’ll recall that at that time, I told you I didn’t want to mention specifically the groups or persons or movements that are in conversation with us. That is still the position now.
“You’ll recall that there have been many publications in newspapers and online, insinuating that Senator Kwankwaso is moving to the APC, that it is imminent and all that. That is just the nature of the game. Some people are pressing or pushing that narrative for their selfish reasons.
“But the bottom line is that very soon, they will begin to hear from us. We will tell our supporters what we are doing. There are basically three cards on the table: either we remain in the NNPP and continue with those who joined us all the way or we form some sort of coalition with Atiku, others; or we form an alliance with the ruling party. I am not saying any of these is the case now. But these are the three basic options that could happen.”
