Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed reports suggesting he has exited the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stating that no final decision has been made regarding his political future.

In a statement addressing recent speculation, Kwankwaso clarified that while discussions are ongoing with stakeholders across multiple political platforms including the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the New Democratic Congress (NDC), he remains a member of the ADC.

He attributed the Current uncertainty within the party to ongoing legal challenges. According to him, a recent Supreme Court ruling affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark led National Working Committee but returned the matter to the High Court, leaving the party in a fragile state. He further noted that a Federal High Court judgment has invalidated the party’s recent convention, while the Attorney General of the Federation has initiated legal proceedings seeking the deregistration of the ADC.

Kwankwaso explained that his earlier departure from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) was due to externally influenced legal disputes that made continued membership untenable, adding that the ADC now faces similar pressures.

“As a result, we have commenced extensive consultations with key stakeholders and leaders across political divides to determine the best course of action in safeguarding our democratic interests,” he said, assuring that a final decision would be communicated in due course.

On speculation surrounding a potential presidential bid, Kwankwaso reiterated that he has neither declared any intention to contest nor endorsed any aspirant. He emphasized that the ADC has yet to zone its presidential ticket or make any official decision on candidacy, describing claims to the contrary as premature.

Highlighting his track record, Kwankwaso noted his participation in the 2014 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, where he finished second to Muhammadu Buhari, and his subsequent support for the party’s victory. He also recalled contesting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket in 2019, after which he backed Atiku Abubakar and served as the campaign’s Northern coordinator.

He stressed his longstanding commitment to party unity and national interest over personal ambition.
Kwankwaso also clarified that his absence from two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings was due to unavoidable personal commitments, noting that he had formally communicated his apologies to the party leadership.

He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to continued engagement with political stakeholders, stating that any definitive position on his political direction would be formally announced through appropriate channels.

I’m yet to leave ADC, but discussions are underway with PRP and NDC.

Clarification on My Political Position

We have noted recent media reports and discussions suggesting a possible realignment within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) due to the current challenges facing the party.

In light of the misleading narratives in the public domain, I wish to state categorically that no final decision has been taken regarding my political future or that of my political associates.

The recent Supreme Court judgment, while affirming the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC), also remitted the matter back to the High Court. This has left the party in a precarious position.

In addition, the Federal High Court has recently ruled to delegitimise the party’s recent convention. The Attorney General of the Federation has also strangely applied to a Federal High Court to deregister the ADC.

We left the NNPP due to externally influenced legal problems that made our stay perilous. The ADC has now been also forced into this difficulty.

Consequently, like other major stakeholders, we have commenced wide-ranging consultations — including with leaders from the NDC, PRP and others to explore the best options for protecting our democratic interests. We shall announce our decision in the soonest possible time.

On the issue of presidential candidacy, I wish to recall my consistent record as a committed democrat. In the 2014 APC presidential primary, I came second to President Muhammadu Buhari (whom I fully supported to victory), with Atiku Abubakar third, Rochas Okorocha fourth, and the late Sam Nda-Isaiah fifth. Similarly, in 2019, I contested the PDP presidential ticket and immediately supported the winner, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, serving as the campaign’s coordinator in the North. I have always placed national interest and party unity above personal ambition.

Furthermore, the ADC is yet to zone its presidential ticket or take any decision on a candidate. I have therefore neither declared any intention to run for president nor endorsed any aspirant. All speculations to the contrary are premature and unfounded.

My absence from the two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings was due to unavoidable personal commitments. I promptly communicated my apologies to the party leadership.

We shall continue to engage constructively at all levels. Any definitive position on our political direction will be communicated formally through official channels at the appropriate time.

Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, PhD, FNSE
Former Governor, Kano State

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to state, clearly and unequivocally, that we remain focused on our mission to rescue Nigeria from the failure of the APC-led government and to prevent the dangerous slide toward a one-party state.

We have taken note of recent suggestions that the ADC will not produce candidates in the 2027 elections. We find such claims to be entirely unfounded, mischievous, and designed to create confusion where none exists. They have no basis in law, in fact, or in the reality of our preparations as a political party.

The ADC will present candidates in the 2027 general elections. Not just candidates, but credible, competent, and nationally acceptable candidates who are capable of leading this country out of its current crisis.

We remain a law-abiding political party, fully compliant with the Constitution and the Electoral Act. There is no legal impediment to our participation in the 2027 elections, and any suggestion to the contrary is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and dampen the growing momentum around our party.

The ADC stands today as the primary opposition platform in Nigeria, and we take that responsibility seriously. We are not distracted by noise. We are focused on the real work, organising across the country, mobilising Nigerians who are tired of insecurity, rising costs of living, and limited opportunities, and building the structures required not just to contest, but to win.

We urge our members, supporters, and all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard these baseless assertions. The task before us is too important to be derailed by speculation.

Signed:
Bolaji Abdullahi
Spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress

The Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has revealed that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and Kano State’s Rabiu Kwankwaso will on Monday announce their move to a new political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Galadima made the disclosure on Saturday at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement in Abuja, signalling a major realignment within the opposition political space.

Though he did not explicitly name the new platform, sources close to the two leaders indicated that they are finalising arrangements to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a party reportedly linked to former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson. A source within the opposition leaders’ camp, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Obi, Kwankwaso, and their key allies had been signing necessary documentation with Senator Dickson and NDC leaders over the past 48 hours.

“We don’t want a repeat of what happened in the ADC to occur again,” the source said. “We discovered late that Atiku and his loyalists lured our leaders to that opposition party to fulfil only one single mission – Atiku’s presidential ambition. All is now set. Both Obi and Kwankwaso will announce their defection from the ADC on Monday.”

The development comes amid recent Supreme Court rulings affecting opposition parties and growing uncertainty over the structure of anti-ruling party coalitions. Addressing journalists at the meeting, Galadima urged supporters to prepare for what he described as inevitable coordinated attacks once the announcement is made. He warned of sponsored media columns and social media campaigns aimed at discrediting the leaders.

“As from Monday, when our leaders declare on which platform they will run, I want to tell you that one of two things will happen,” Galadima said. “First, they will sponsor columnists. Two, they will deploy social media influencers to start attacking our candidates… We must come to them with the ferociousness that is needed of an intelligent man.”

He advised supporters to adopt a measured but firm approach:

“Don’t call anybody any name until they call our leaders names. Then we will respond with the greatest might of intellect in us… We are already lying flat on the floor. Are we afraid to fall?”

Galadima further alleged a pattern of repression against opposition figures, claiming security agencies had been used to malign and detain leaders in an initial phase, followed by the systematic weakening of various opposition parties including the SDP, PDP, ADC, NDP, and PRP.

Also speaking at the event, Isaac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, threw his weight behind the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance, declaring it a strong alternative for the 2027 polls.

“I am not a politician and don’t need to join your political party. But let me say that O-K (Obi-Kwankwaso) is okay for me,” Fayose stated. He claimed strong support for the alliance across 28 states and called for vigilance against electoral manipulation.

Activist Aisha Yesufu, who also addressed the gathering, appealed for national unity beyond ethnic and regional lines.

“It is time for us to become a nation that is working,” she said. “The next time they say to you that this is an Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba person, tell them indeed, we are all Nigerians… We must unite right now.”