Former presidential hopeful Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso reiterated on Saturday night that he has not left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) despite ongoing disputes within the party, but he did not rule out a possible defection.
In a statement released late Saturday, the ex‑governor of Kano State said he has been holding “wide‑ranging consultations” with leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and other political formations to assess the best way to safeguard democratic interests. He added that no decision has been taken regarding his own political future or that of his allies.
Kwankwaso cited a series of recent court rulings that have destabilised the ADC. A Supreme Court judgment upheld the David Mark‑led National Working Committee but sent the matter back to the High Court, while a Federal High Court judgment invalidated the party’s recent convention. Moreover, the Attorney General of the Federation has applied to a Federal High Court to deregister the ADC. “The ADC has now been forced into this difficulty,” Kwankwaso said, drawing a parallel with his earlier exit from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) after “externally influenced legal problems” made continued participation untenable.
The statement also addressed speculation about Kwankwaso’s presidential ambitions. He recalled his track record as a “committed democrat,” noting that he placed second to Muhammadu Buhari in the 2014 APC presidential primary and, after contesting the 2019 PDP ticket, immediately backed winner Atiku Abubakar and served as the campaign coordinator for the North. “I have always placed national interest and party unity above personal ambition,” he wrote.
Kwankwaso clarified that the ADC has not yet zoned its presidential ticket or selected a candidate, and he has neither declared a bid for the presidency nor endorsed any aspirant. He explained his absence from two recent ADC stakeholder meetings as being due to “unavoidable personal commitments,” for which he apologized to party officials.
The former governor concluded that the ADC’s internal challenges and the broader legal environment will be closely monitored, and any definitive decision on his political direction will be communicated through official channels in due course.
