Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has declared that his party is open to returning to the All Progressives Congress (APC) but only under “strong promises” that ensure tangible benefits for the NNPP.
Kwankwaso made the statement while receiving Buhari Bakwana, a former political adviser to ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, along with APC members from all 44 local government areas of Kano State, at his Miller Road residence in Kano.
The NNPP leader reminded visitors that he and other key figures played a central role in founding the APC in 2013, enduring political persecution in the process.
“Nobody in the country will tell me the burden we took in creating APC. We were the first set of seven governors to declare support for it. ICPC, EFCC, and the police were all used against me then, just to stop our plans,” Kwankwaso said.
Kwankwaso stressed that any discussion of a merger or return must outline clear advantages for NNPP members.
“If you are asking us to join APC, you must tell us what NNPP will gain.
We have gubernatorial candidates in all states and full structures nationwide. What will you offer them if we join?” he asked.
Recalling previous political frustrations, Kwankwaso accused both APC and PDP of betraying agreements.
“Eight years of APC under the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari gave us nothing, not even appreciation.
In PDP, we asked for just a zonal party chairman, but they refused. We left peacefully, and today we are strong and have integrity,” he said.
Despite past grievances, Kwankwaso said the NNPP remains willing to engage in fresh negotiations but warned against being used and abandoned.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises.
We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us,” he maintained.