The National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has outlined conditions for any proposed political merger, insisting that interested parties must be willing to offer him either the presidential or vice-presidential slot.
The two-term former governor of Kano State stated this while addressing supporters at his Miller Road residence in Kano over the weekend, amid speculations of possible realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso also dismissed reports of any pact between him and Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that he was not in support of such a move, though he added that “life will go on” if those involved insist on leaving the party.
Reacting to the alleged defection plans, Kwankwaso criticised those encouraging the governor to join the APC, describing it as painful to transfer a “hard-earned victory” to a rival camp.
He said, “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,” adding that, “Nothing is as painful as taking our hard-earned victory and office to our rival camp, Ganduje.”
Speaking on merger talks, he said, “At the national level, our hope is that we will merge with others, whether under NNPP or any other party. But those who will agree that I, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, become the number one (Presidential Candidate) or the number two (Vice Presidential Candidate).”
He further argued that political strength lies with the masses, not the number of governors or political heavyweights, ahead of the 2027 polls.