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Political Realignments: Kwankwaso Receives APC Defectors into NDC in Kano

Political Realignments: Kwankwaso Receives APC Defectors into NDC in Kano

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has formally received a group of defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State, marking another significant political realignment in the state as the 2027 elections approach.

The political landscape in Kano State witnessed another realignment over the weekend as Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), formally received a group of defectors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) into his party and the Kwankwasiyya Movement. The reception, which took place at Kwankwaso’s residence along Miller Road in Kano, underscores the NDC’s ongoing efforts to expand its support base in one of Nigeria’s most politically significant states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The delegation was led by Danlami Zakari Unguwar Gertai, also known as Garkuwan Gari, from Gari Local Government Area of Kano State. According to the Kwankwasiyya Movement, the defectors pledged their loyalty and unwavering commitment to Kwankwaso and the movement’s vision for a better Nigeria. The movement further stated that the new members promised to work for the growth of the NDC and support its campaign agenda. While the exact number of defectors was not disclosed, the reception drew a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters, many wearing the signature red caps associated with the Kwankwasiyya movement.

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In a statement shared on his official X account on Sunday, Kwankwaso expressed delight over the development and assured the new members of equitable treatment within the party. “I was elated to receive a group of defectors from Madobi Local Government who have left the APC to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC),” he wrote. “I warmly welcomed them into our fold and assured them of fair and comfortable positions within our party. We continue to grow stronger, free from major distractions.” Photographs from the event showed Kwankwaso, dressed in white traditional attire and his trademark red-and-white cap, flanked by the party’s Kano Central Senatorial candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, addressing a large crowd of supporters from an elevated position while holding a microphone. Other images captured large gatherings of supporters cheering and raising their hands in solidarity.

The development came barely 24 hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the personal particulars and credentials of Kwankwaso and the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections. Kwankwaso and Obi had previously contested the 2023 presidential election on different platforms before joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and later moving to the NDC, citing internal disagreements and prolonged court cases within the ADC. However, the reception of new defectors comes amid reports of internal strains within the Kwankwasiyya movement. Recent political realignments have seen some long-standing allies exit the movement, including Senator Rufa’i Sani Hanga, who represents Kano Central Senatorial District, and who recently lost his senatorial ticket in the NDC to Nasiru Gawuna. Hanga publicly reflected on his disappointment, stating: “I followed the Kwankwasiyya movement with absolute loyalty, but in the end, I was left facing the mockery of my enemies and the tears of those who cared about me.” Furthermore, the NDC has reportedly replaced some candidates earlier nominated by the Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano State as part of efforts to implement a power-sharing agreement, potentially affecting the perception of the movement and the unity of the NDC in the state. Gawuna, who was seen at the reception with Kwankwaso, had been the subject of defection talks to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in recent months, with negotiations reportedly shifted from the state to the national level of the party. He was named as the NDC’s Kano Central Senatorial candidate in May 2026, alongside Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo as the party’s governorship candidate for the state.

The latest defections are expected to strengthen the NDC’s grassroots mobilisation in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most politically significant states, as political parties intensify realignments and membership drives ahead of the 2027 elections. Despite internal challenges and the exit of some key figures, the Kwankwasiyya movement continues to command significant grassroots support, particularly among youths and urban voters through its distinctive red-cap identity and extensive political network.