KANO / ABUJA — The national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has offered a scathing critique of state governors defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), attributing their moves to fear, political desperation, and a flawed belief that federal power guarantees electoral outcome.
Kwankwaso asserted that many opposition governors and high-profile politicians joining the APC are doing so under the mistaken impression that the presidency will ultimately determine and write the election results in their favor during upcoming polls.
Key Takeaways from Kwankwaso’s Critique
Speaking to political associates, supporters, and delegates regarding the wave of political defections across the country, Kwankwaso highlighted the motivations driving opposition leaders into the ruling party:
- Electoral Illusion: “Many of these governors and political figures joining the APC are acting out of fear. They genuinely believe that the presidency will write the election results for them when the time comes,” Kwankwaso stated, warning that relying on federal muscle over popular mandate is a dangerous gamble.
- Abandonment of Grassroots Loyalty: Kwankwaso argued that politicians fleeing opposition structures are betraying the voters who elected them, opting instead for federal political cover rather than delivering meaningful governance to earn public trust.
- Warning on Democratic Erosion: The NNPP leader cautioned that turning Nigeria into a de facto one-party state through intimidation and political inducement threatens the health of the nation’s democracy and undermines the credibility of the electoral system.
Context of Ongoing Political Realignments
Kwankwaso’s comments come amid a broader wave of political realignments and cross-carpetings across the country, where several state executives and legislative members have migrated from opposition platforms—including the PDP, LP, and NNPP—to the ruling APC.
DEFECTION DRIVERS (KWANKWASO'S VIEW):
• Fear of executive federal harassment / agency probes.
• Assumption that federal power dictates state-level election results.
• Search for political survival over ideological conviction.
Political analysts note that Kwankwaso’s warning highlights growing friction between opposition figures striving to build a formidable coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections and state leaders seeking immediate political security under the central government.
