Kwankwaso Sets Conditions for Political Merger, Insists on Presidential or VP Slot

The national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has outlined conditions for any proposed political merger involving his party or other political platforms, insisting that he must be offered either the presidential or vice-presidential ticket.

Kwankwaso, a two-term former governor of Kano State, stated this while addressing supporters at his Miller Road residence in Kano over the weekend. He said any party seeking a merger must present clear terms and be willing to accommodate him in a top leadership position.

The former defence minister also dismissed reports alleging plans by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), denying any pact between them to leave the NNPP.

Kwankwaso said he was not in support of any such move and urged those allegedly encouraging the governor to defect to reconsider.

“I am not party to it, and I am not in support of the purported move to defect from the party. It is necessary that everyone knows this,” he said.

Kwankwaso warned that taking the party’s “hard-earned victory” to a rival camp would be damaging, describing such a move as painful and unnecessary. He referenced the political history of former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, saying lessons should have been learnt from past events.

He acknowledged that the APC and the Federal Government had reached out to him and the NNPP in the past but said discussions failed because they could not offer satisfactory terms to him, party leaders, and supporters.

“Our movement is not about my personal interest alone,” Kwankwaso said, adding that the NNPP has a national presence and aims to consolidate its strength in Kano before expanding to other states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Responding to claims that the NNPP is small or plagued by internal crises, Kwankwaso rejected the assertions, noting that the party had conducted ward, local government, state, zonal congresses, and a national convention.

He reiterated that while the NNPP remains open to mergers at the national level, such arrangements would only be acceptable if he emerges as either the presidential or vice-presidential candidate.

Kwankwaso further argued that political dominance through defections would not guarantee electoral victory, stressing that the 2027 elections would be a contest between the masses and political elites who, according to him, failed to improve the lives of Nigerians despite having the opportunity to do so.