President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is preparing for a pivotal meeting with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the influential leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and former governor of Kano State.
The meeting is scheduled for later today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and follows President Tinubu’s recent closed-door discussion with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, a protégé of Kwankwaso whose political trajectory has become a central focus of negotiations between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). 
Kano State holds significant electoral weight with millions of voters and has been a major swing state in recent election cycles. Kwankwaso, an experienced political heavyweight, commanded considerable support in the 2023 presidential election and remains a prominent figure in northern politics. His movement, Kwankwasiyya, has continued to exert influence across the state and beyond. 
Speculation surrounding defections from the NNPP to the APC has dominated the political discourse in Kano over the past few weeks. Governor Yusuf’s visit to the Villa intensified rumours that he may formally defect to the APC, a move that would align him with President Tinubu’s ruling party.
Sources familiar with the talks said that key issues under discussion included assurances for Yusuf’s political future, security of his political base, and protections for his supporters within the APC. These discussions are said to have resolved several sticking points that had previously delayed his expected defection announcement.
While Governor Yusuf appears to be moving closer to the APC, his mentor and longtime ally Senator Kwankwaso has been cautious about any immediate shift in allegiance. Kwankwaso had previously resisted alignment with the APC and warned against Yusuf’s defection from the NNPP. However, his stance reportedly softened in recent weeks, with indications that he might consider new political arrangements if presented with satisfactory terms.
This has created strains within the NNPP. Internal party developments have also complicated the picture, including reports that the NNPP’s national leadership has recently barred Kwankwaso from seeking the party’s presidential ticket in 2027. This move may have influenced the recalibration of his political strategy.
Samuel Aina