LAGOS – The political landscape is on high alert as Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), is reportedly finalising plans to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in a bid to spearhead a grand opposition coalition for the 2027 polls.
The defection rumors reached a crescendo following a strategic, closed-door meeting between Kwankwaso and former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola at his Lagos residence on Friday. Aregbesola, a disgruntled APC stalwart, is widely seen as a kingmaker in the emerging ADC-anchored “Third Force.”
Kano Fallout Triggers Realignment
Sources close to the Kwankwasiyya leader suggest that the move is a direct response to the defection of Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Left without his primary power base in the Northwest, Kwankwaso is reportedly seeking a broader national platform to sustain his presidential ambitions.
The ADC ‘Mega-Party’ Dream
The ADC is rapidly becoming the melting pot for high-profile defectors, with Peter Obi and supporters of Atiku Abubakar already exploring the platform. Political analysts believe a Kwankwaso-ADC alliance would merge the Kwankwasiyya’s northern grassroots machinery with the southern “Obidient” base, creating a formidable threat to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
However, the path remains fraught with negotiations. Kwankwaso has previously insisted he will only join a coalition if he is guaranteed a top-tier ticket. Meanwhile, government critics like Festus Keyamo have mocked the move, describing the NNPP leader as being in a “tight corner” following his loss of Kano.
While an official declaration is “tipped for any moment,” the Kwankwaso camp remains tight-lipped. The coming days will determine if the “Red Cap” movement will formally trade the NNPP’s fruits for the ADC’s handshake.
Will Kwankwaso accept a secondary role in an ADC coalition, or will the battle for the top spot derail this potential mega-merger?
