•As Kwankwaso resigns from NNPP, joins ADC
•To be officially received today
•Mark-led party denies running mate slot concession to ex-Kano gov
A former governor of Kano State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has formally resigned his membership of the party, announcing his decision to join the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC).
Kwankwaso’s entry into the ADC immediately triggered talks of his joining forces with the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP) to win the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
It was learnt that Obi’s recent trip to Kano during the Ramadan break broke the ice on the negotiation between the duo.
It was learnt that Obi had offered to spend only one term in the office in order to sway Northern votes, as the North would be seeking to return to power in 2031.
Sources said that Kwankawo’s defection to the ADC signals a major shift in the polity as a candidate from the North West might join a South Eastern candidate to wrestle the presidency from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sources also confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that key leaders of the ADC are seeking a situation where Obi and Kwankwaso team up for the presidential race, while former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar would be pacified to back the ticket.
“It is something we are working on, and there is a strong belief that the former governor of Kano State has a good number of followers in the North West who would boost Obi’s votes in case the contest goes into direct primaries,” a source said.
But the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, denied knowledge of an Obi/Kwankwaso ticket, simply saying, “No. Not true.”
While responding to an enquiry by the Nigerian Tribune, Abdullahi dismissed the notion that the ADC had offered a running mate slot to Kwankwaso. “No. Not true,” he said.
Sources, however, told the Nigerian Tribune that the party was willing to explore the consensus option by rallying the key presidential hopefuls to key into the agenda.
Kwankwaso’s defection was announced through a statement dated March 29, 2026, in which he announced his resignation from the NNPP, citing the need for strategic realignment in response to the evolving political dynamics in the country.
He said: “I wish to formally announce my resignation from the New Nigeria People’s Party with immediate effect,” he stated, adding that the decision, though difficult, was necessary to enable him to align with “another political platform that offers the best opportunity to effectively change the nation.”
Kwankwaso, who served as the NNPP’s National Leader and presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general election, expressed gratitude to the party’s leadership, including National Chairman Ajuji Ahmed, National Working Committee (NWC), Board of Trustees (BoT), and members across all levels for their support during his time in the party.
He also acknowledged the loyalty of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, a strong grassroots political bloc widely credited with boosting the NNPP’s influence, particularly in Kano State and parts of northern Nigeria.
“We shall continue to collaborate and work together towards charting a better and more prosperous future for our dear nation,” he said.
The resignation comes ahead of Kwankwaso’s expected defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), scheduled for today, Monday, at 12 noon in Kano State.
Reacting to the development, the NNPP confirmed on Sunday that it was aware of the planned defection and is closely monitoring the situation.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ladipo Johnson, said the initial announcement came from the Kwankwasiyya Movement but noted that the party has taken official notice of the development.
“We are aware of the planned defection, and in the coming weeks, some members of the party are also expected to join him in his new political platform,” Johnson said.
The NNPP spokesperson acknowledged that Kwankwaso’s exit could trigger further defections, raising concerns about the party’s strength, particularly in its northern strongholds.
The move represents a significant blow to the NNPP, where Kwankwaso has been a central figure since the party’s resurgence ahead of the 2023 elections.
His anticipated move to the ADC is already generating widespread reactions, with observers suggesting it could reshape opposition politics and strengthen the ADC as a viable alternative platform.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement is expected to play a critical role in determining the impact of the defection, as a mass movement of loyalists into the ADC could significantly boost the party’s national profile.
It is expected that the Kwankwasiyya movement would work with the Obidients, another mass movement group supporting Mr. Peter Obi to wrestle the ADC ticket.
Kwankwaso’s defection comes amid broader political realignments across the country, as parties and key actors reposition ahead of future electoral contests.
For the ADC, his entry is being seen as a strategic gain, given his political experience, national visibility, and strong support base in the North-West.
As attention turns to Monday’s formal declaration in Kano, political stakeholders are watching closely to gauge the scale of the defection and its implications for the balance of power within Nigeria’s opposition space.
ADC denies running mate slot to Kwankwaso
In a simple response to an enquiry from the Nigerian Tribune, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the notion that the ADC had offered a running mate slot to Kwankwaso.
When asked if it was true that the ADC had conceded the running mate slot to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso because of a grapevine report that he (Kwankwaso) would run with Peter Obi, he simply said, “No. Not true.”