The Kwankwasiyya Movement has accused certain political actors of spreading false reports to undermine the influence of its leader, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, dismissing claims of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as baseless.
In a statement on Monday, the movement said, “We observed with deep concern the increasing circulation of speculative reports, commentaries, and televised opinions alleging that our principal, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, engaged in negotiations or made demands to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We state clearly, categorically, and without any ambiguity that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has never at any time entered into negotiations, discussions, or meetings with the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, or any proxy for the purpose of defection.
“These claims are entirely false, baseless, and deliberately misleading,” the release added.
The movement’s spokesperson, Dr Habibu Sale Muhammad, said the narratives were part of a broader effort by political elites to diminish Kwankwaso’s relevance ahead of future political realignments.
“Ironically, many of those promoting these narratives are individuals who harbour personal ambitions to defect to the APC and have now done so, seeking to justify their decisions through revisionist storytelling,” he said.
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Dr Habibu stressed that Kwankwaso’s political strength comes from his supporters and grassroots base, not from elite consensus.
“Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is a politician of discipline, integrity, and principle. He does not negotiate his convictions in secret, nor does he conduct politics by speculation or convenience.
“His political strength has always derived from the people, particularly the downtrodden, not from elite consensus or media echo chambers.”
He further clarified that the last meeting between Kwankwaso and President Tinubu in January 2024 did not involve discussions of defection or political bargaining.
“Claims that Senator Kwankwaso made high demands or overreached himself are fabrications built on imaginary negotiations that never occurred,” he said.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement urged Nigerians to disregard the misleading reports, describing them as deliberate attempts to weaken Kwankwaso’s political influence.