2027: Kwankwaso Ready to Join APC, Says Jibrin

Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member of the House of Representatives, has revealed that former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso remains open to joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jibrin, a senior figure in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), made the remarks on Wednesday, indicating that discussions about Kwankwaso teaming up with President Bola Tinubu in the APC are still possible.

“He has always kept his doors open, and ours are open for dialogue. Everything remains a possibility,” Jibrin told Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Speculation about Kwankwaso, who ran against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, defecting to the APC has been a recurring theme amid growing political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 polls.

Though those rumors seemed to have died down, Jibrin stressed that the prospect of Kwankwaso joining the APC “has never been closed.”

Asked about potential obstacles to Kwankwaso’s entry into the APC, Jibrin pointed to internal party dynamics in Kano. “There might be vested interests within the APC in Kano who don’t want us to join, perhaps because of personal ambitions — like someone eyeing the governorship or other positions,” he said.

Jibrin also emphasized the influence of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, led by the former NNPP presidential candidate, describing it as a significant political force that cannot be sidelined.

The lawmaker, who has been an ally of President Tinubu and visited him multiple times, has fueled speculation about his own possible defection from the NNPP. However, during the interview, Jibrin stopped short of confirming any plans to join the APC, stating, “I keep saying everything is a possibility.”

While affirming his loyalty as a Kwankwasiyya, Jibrin clarified that he does not require Kwankwaso’s approval to leave the NNPP. “At my age, I’m old enough to make my own decisions,” he said. Jibrin represents Kano’s Kiru/Bebeji Constituency.

In the 2023 presidential election, Kwankwaso garnered 1,496,687 votes, finishing a distant fourth behind Tinubu of the APC with 8,794,726 votes, Atiku Abubakar with 6,984,520, and Peter Obi with 6,101,533 votes.