Former New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate Rabi’u Kwankwaso met privately with Muhammad Rabiu Sabo Bakin, the National Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), on Thursday in Abuja. The meeting, which also included NDC National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Ahmad Waya, was described as a courtesy visit aimed at discussing Kwakwaso’s future political affiliation.
According to sources present at the gathering, Bakin urged Kwakwaso to abandon the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he currently holds membership, and to join the NDC. The NDC official highlighted a leadership crisis within the ADC, claiming that the party’s internal turmoil undermines its ability to function effectively. He added that the NDC is prepared to receive Kwakwaso and his supporters, offering them “any positions they desire” within the party structure.
Kwankwaso, who served as governor of Kano State from 1999 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2015, previously left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to become the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election. Although he did not win, his personal following in northern Nigeria remains significant, and his potential migration to another political platform could reshape regional dynamics.
The NDC, a relatively new party that emerged from a split within the Democratic Peoples Alliance, has been seeking high‑profile figures to broaden its national appeal ahead of the 2027 general elections. By courting Kwakwaso, the party aims to tap into his established network in Kano and the broader northern electorate, a region traditionally dominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP.
The ADC, founded in 2005, has been grappling with internal disputes over leadership succession and candidate selection, prompting concerns among its members about future viability. Analysts note that defections of senior figures like Kwakwaso could accelerate the party’s decline, while simultaneously strengthening the NDC’s position as a third‑force alternative.
No official statement has been released by either Kwakwaso or the ADC confirming a decision. The NDC, however, indicated that further discussions will be scheduled to finalize any possible transition. Observers will watch closely for subsequent moves, as the realignment of political loyalties could influence coalition building and voter alignments in the lead‑up to the next electoral cycle.
