Amid ongoing political realignments in Kano State that culminated in Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf’s resignation from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, on Tuesday, the party’s national leader and 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, said he is “not for sale” and urged supporters to begin preparations for the 2027 elections.
Yusuf’s defection was accompanied by the exit of the party’s entire political structure in the state, including members of the House of Assembly, National Assembly lawmakers and local government legislators.
Reacting to the development at his residence in Kano shortly after the governor’s announcement, Kwankwaso, who leads the Kwankwasiyya Movement that propelled Yusuf to victory in 2023, said his political struggle has remained focused on freeing ordinary Nigerians from the harsh conditions they face.
“I’m not for sale. Our political convictions keep me grounded. If I were in it for personal gain, I would have taken the easy route and you would be looking for me elsewhere not in this place.
“Our shared vision is what keeps me going. If I were motivated by greed, I would have taken the money and run. And you would not be here, showing your support.” Kwankwaso maintained.
He urged party supporters to mobilise and prepare ahead of 2027, saying, “We need people like you who have sacrificed and stood by the truth. You should not relent, as we will one day achieve our objectives.”
“Going by what is happening in Kano today, we need to start preparing because there are people who are hell-bent in destroying what we built over time. My mission is to always fight for the ordinary people. I would not compromise with those who exploit the masses,” Kwankwaso assured his supporters.
Meanwhile, while the Governor and his supporters are yet to officially announce the political party he would be joining, it is obvious that they are moving to the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) as he has been discussing with the leadership of the party in the past few weeks, which culminated in him visiting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Aso Rock a few days ago where the duo met behind closed doors and kept their discussion under wraps.
