Defections: Kwankwaso cautions politicians against betraying the voters after victory

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By Jude Opara, Abuja

Despite his rumoured plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and former governor of Kano state, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has taken a swipe at politicians who defect to rival parties after winning elections with the support of the people, describing such acts as the “greatest political sin” in a democratic setting.

Kwankwaso made the remarks over the weekend while receiving dozens of defectors from Takai Local Government Area into the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) at his Miller Road residence.

The comments come in the wake of several high-profile defections from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a development political observers say reflects internal party realignments ahead of the forthcoming general elections in 2027.

Kwankwaso who did not name any politician in particular, criticized those who, after gaining office through the goodwill of the voters, abandon the very people who trusted them at the ballot box and move with their mandate.

“This is the highest form of betrayal in a democracy. I don’t know of any greater political sin than when vulnerable people vote for you—rejecting deceivers and enemies of progress—and you turn around to join those same enemies after winning. Had the people known, they wouldn’t have voted for you,” he said.

The former senator while reflecting on the endurance of the Kwankwasiyya movement through turbulent political times, particularly in 2015, said some individuals joined the group with a hidden agenda to destabilize the group.

“But thank God, the movement did not derail,” he added.

He also cautioned against underestimating the strength and resilience of the movement, stating: “Fighting the Kwankwasiyya movement is a grave mistake. One may not understand until he engages in that fight—and then he’ll realize how tough it is to battle a solid wall.”

The former Presidential candidate reaffirmed the movement’s focus on the masses, urging members to remain united and continue mobilizing support at the grassroots level.

“Whether or not you hold office, receive appointments, or get contracts, we are all driven by the same mission. The poor now understand everything, and that awareness is what brought us to this point. Go back to your communities and bring more people into this struggle,” he said.

The former former governor while congratulating the new members for joining what he described as “a movement built for the people,” assuring them of greater opportunities and representation infuture.