Former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, says he is open to rejoining the All Progressives Congress (APC) but only under firm guarantees that his party will not be “used and dumped.”

Speaking at his Miller Road residence in Kano on Thursday, Kwankwaso told visiting loyalists, led by Hon. Buhari Bakwana, that any move back to the APC must come with clear benefits for NNPP structures nationwide. Bakwana, a former APC stalwart and ally of ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, arrived with supporters from all 44 local government areas of the state.

“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us,” Kwankwaso said. “If you are asking us to join APC, you must tell us what NNPP will gain. We have gubernatorial candidates in all the states and full structures nationwide. What will you offer them, if we join?”

The NNPP leader recalled his role in forming APC in 2013, lamenting that he and other early members were sidelined during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
“Nobody in this country will tell me the burden we took to form APC. We were the first set of seven governors to declare support for it. ICPC, EFCC, and the police were all used against us just to stop our plans. Eight years of APC under President Buhari gave us nothing, not even appreciation,” he stated.

Kwankwaso accused both the APC and PDP of reneging on previous alliances, insisting that future negotiations must guarantee tangible benefits for his party.

Reacting, the Kano APC chapter said it was open to welcoming Kwankwaso back but maintained that he must respect party structures.
“Kwankwaso can’t come to APC and control a party that has national spread. APC is not NNPP which he established and controls. We are ready to welcome him back because his return is an added advantage to the ruling party, and also for the peace and development of Kano,” State Secretary Zakari Ibrahim Sarina said.

Kwankwaso had earlier held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu in July, after which he hinted at possible collaboration with the APC government. Weeks later, however, he accused the administration of sidelining the North and diverting resources disproportionately to the South.