A former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, will defect from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) next week, the Kwankwasiyya movement has revealed.
The spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Habibu Mohammed, told TheCable on Friday night that the decision was sealed after a unanimous endorsement by stakeholders.
Mohammed said stakeholders’ representatives from all 44 LGAs in Kano assembled at Kwankwaso’s residence on Friday around 3:30pm to weigh the options — and, in the end, agreed on the defection.
“The stakeholders have unanimously given him the go-ahead to move to the NDC,” he said.
He said Kwankwaso will be coming to Abuja on Sunday ahead of the planned defection.
Mohammed said “I believe him, Peter Obi, and some others will be joining the NDC.”
He said stakeholders’ representatives from all 44 LGAs in Kano gathered at Kwankwaso’s residence on Friday around 3:30pm to weigh the options — and, in the end, spoke with one voice.
“The stakeholders have unanimously given him the go-ahead to move to the NDC,” he said. Kwankwaso, he added, is currently in Kano and is expected back in Abuja by Sunday ahead of the planned defection.
According to Mohammed, the ruling only by the Supreme Court on Thursday has reinforced concerns about uncertainty within the party.
“If you look at the case referred back to the lower court, it might take time. There could even be another appeal to the supreme court. It does not look feasible to stay there,” Mohammed said.
On Thursday, the aoex court set aside the controversial status quo ante bellum order in the ADC leadership dispute and returned the matter to the Federal High Court for determination — effectively resetting the contest without resolving it.
The spokesperson of Kwankwasiyya Movement said “if you look at the case referred back to the lower court, it might take time. There could even be another appeal to the supreme court. It does not look feasible to stay there.
“The entire caucus voted unanimously that a better platform, not embedded in a leadership tussle, should be used.”
According to him, the options of both NDC and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) were considered, adding that stakeholders ultimately threw their weight behind the NDC.
He said said there are three pending cases against the ADC at the Federal High Court, adding the legal landscape as too murky for comfort.
Added to that, he said is the ticking clock ahead of the deadline for submission of party membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which forced the movement’s hand.
