Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso is reportedly set to defect from the African Democratic Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress next week, according to the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Speaking to TheCable on Friday, the spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Habibu Mohammed, disclosed that the decision followed a unanimous endorsement by stakeholders after extensive consultations.
According to Mohammed, negotiations with the NDC have reached an advanced stage, with only minor issues left unresolved.
He further claimed that Kwankwaso and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi are expected to formally join the party on Monday or Tuesday.
“I believe him, Peter Obi, and some others will be joining the NDC,” Mohammed reportedly stated.
He explained that representatives from all 44 local government areas of Kano State met at Kwankwaso’s residence on Friday to deliberate on the political direction of the movement before unanimously approving the planned defection.
The reported move is said to have been influenced largely by the lingering leadership crisis within the ADC.
Mohammed noted that the recent Supreme Court ruling, which returned the party’s leadership dispute to the Federal High Court for fresh determination, heightened concerns over instability within the platform.
According to him, stakeholders concluded that remaining in a party entangled in prolonged legal uncertainty would be politically risky ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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He added that both the NDC and the Peoples Redemption Party were considered as alternative platforms before the movement settled on the NDC.
Mohammed also pointed to the approaching deadline for submission of party membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission as a major factor behind the urgency of the decision.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi’s recent absence from ADC meetings following the opposition leaders’ summit in Ibadan has further fuelled speculation about internal disagreements within the coalition.
Reports indicate that Obi has remained dissatisfied with the party’s handling of issues surrounding zoning and power rotation, which he reportedly believes are essential for maintaining trust and fairness within the alliance.
Earlier this year, supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso launched the “OK Movement” to mobilise support for a possible joint ticket involving both politicians ahead of future elections.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Kwankwaso nor Obi has officially confirmed the planned defection publicly.