Former Kano State Governor and leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is reportedly considering a strategic move to align with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as opposition forces intensify realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Multiple political sources indicate that Kwankwaso is weighing the option of joining a growing opposition coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, under the ADC platform.
This development comes amid significant political shifts in Kano State, where Governor Abba Yusuf Kwankwaso’s political protégé and the NNPP’s only sitting governor is expected to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Yusuf’s planned defection, reportedly scheduled for Monday, follows the earlier movement of most NNPP lawmakers in the Kano State House of Assembly to the APC.
Sources familiar with the matter told DDM that Kwankwaso is unhappy with the unfolding developments in Kano and has opposed Yusuf’s defection, a stance that has triggered internal disagreements within the influential Kwankwasiyya movement.
Despite the apparent weakening of his party’s structure at the state level, Kwankwaso is said to be in quiet talks with ADC leaders, exploring the possibility of moving into the party alongside loyal members of the Kwankwasiyya political base.
Political insiders say the negotiations are part of broader efforts to forge a united opposition front capable of challenging the APC’s dominance in 2027.
The ruling party currently boasts the support of 28 state governors, further underscoring the urgency of opposition consolidation.
If the talks succeed, a potential alliance involving Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso who finished second, third, and fourth respectively in the 2023 presidential election could significantly reshape Nigeria’s political landscape and alter electoral calculations nationwide.
Peter Obi’s recent defection to the ADC has already injected momentum into the opposition realignment.
The former Anambra governor joined a growing list of political heavyweights in the party, including Atiku Abubakar, David Mark, Aminu Tambuwal, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, and Abubakar Malami.
Reacting to Obi’s entry, ADC chieftain Dr Ladan Salihu said the development has repositioned the party as a formidable alternative to the APC.
Meanwhile, the APC continues to consolidate power, with Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang also defecting to the ruling party on Friday.
As political manoeuvring intensifies, analysts say the months ahead will determine whether Nigeria’s fragmented opposition can overcome internal divisions and present a unified challenge in 2027