How Kwankwaso’s ‘unrealistic’ demands crumbled APC courtship

Fresh details emerged yesterday on how efforts by the presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to forge a political deal with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, until recently regarded as Kano’s “beautiful bride” and a potential election-shaping force, eventually collapsed.

Sources familiar with the talks said engagements between Kwankwaso and President Bola Tinubu stretched across several months, with multiple meetings held, especially in Abuja.
At the outset, the presidency was said to have viewed Kwankwaso as a strategic bridge into Kano and parts of the North-west, particularly given NNPP’s performance in the 2023 general election.

However, top sources within the ruling APC told THISDAY last night that negotiations broke down over what they described as excessive and unrealistic demands.
According to sources, Kwankwaso sought control of up to 20 per cent of APC’s national structure, alongside a vice presidential slot and guarantees extending to the 2031 political cycle.
Senior APC figures said the requests immediately raised red flags as manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 polls gathered pace.
“Even President Bola Tinubu has not specifically asked for any percentage share of the APC. That demand for 20 per cent of the structure of the APC nationwide was a deal breaker. Besides, the vice-presidential position was never on the table.

“It was made clear to him that it was not vacant, and there was no basis for discussions around 2031 at this stage,” the impeccable source who was familiar with the negotiations