A former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, and a stalwart of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday hosted a former Governor of Kano State and ex-presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People Party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Abuja.
Kwankwaso’s visit to the former vice president at his Abuja home comes ahead of his imminent defection to the ADC. Atiku, in a post via his official X handle, said that Kwankwaso was on a courtesy visit and they both had a robust discussion on the state of the country.
He wrote, “This evening, I received the former Governor of Kano State and the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), H.E Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on a courtesy visit. We had a robust discussion on the state of the nation.”
The development comes days after the National Secretary of the ADC and former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, visited Kwankwaso at his Abuja residence. Kwankwaso confirmed the visit on his X page, though he did not disclose details of their discussions.
Meanwhile, the Kwankwasiyya Movement has confirmed that Kwankwaso will officially join the ADC and formally register with the party on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Gidan Kwakwasiya, Miller Road, Bompai, Kano.
Monday’s formal registration will mark Kwankwaso’s exit from the NNPP, a party he played a central role in building, and his entry into a new political chapter ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speculation over Kwankwaso’s possible defection gained traction last Sunday during the annual Kwankwasiyya Eid festival in Kano, where supporters repeatedly chanted the former Anambra State governor and ex-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in his presence.
Both men acknowledged the applause and delivered brief speeches at the Eid celebrations. The development marks a significant realignment in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, as Kwankwaso’s move is expected to reshape alliances among northern political actors.
