Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has formally welcomed 24 retired military officers from Kano State into the movement. This development comes as the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and its ideological faction, the Kwankwasiyya Movement, navigate a political crisis following a series of defections that have recently affected the party.
The 24 officers, who concluded their notable military careers in January 2025 after 35 years of dedicated service to the nation, have pledged their full commitment to the principles of Kwankwasiyya. During their meeting with the movement’s leader, they expressed their steadfast support for the movement and their intention to contribute significantly to its success in the upcoming elections.
The delegation was headed by Kabiru Haruna, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Scholarship Board, who characterized this move as a “bold and strategic alignment that underscores the credibility and increasing momentum of the Kwankwasiyya ideology.” In receiving the delegation, Kwankwaso expressed gratitude for their service to Nigeria and welcomed them “with open arms and a heart full of hope.” He commended their patriotism and dedication, assuring them that their experience, discipline, and networks would serve as invaluable assets in fostering a more progressive and inclusive Nigeria. “This is a moment of honour,” Kwankwaso remarked. “These individuals have served our country with integrity and distinction.
They are now bringing that same spirit to support democracy and the populace through Kwankwasiyya. Together, we will forge a brighter future.” The endorsement from such a prominent group of military retirees is perceived by analysts as a morale booster for the Kwankwasiyya movement and a strong indication of its expanding influence ahead of the 2027 elections. However, the recent defection of notable leaders and chieftains from the NNPP, particularly those elected on the party’s platform during the 2023 general elections, has raised concerns regarding the party’s future and the potential implications for its efforts to retain Kano in 2027.
With more than one million votes at stake, the contest for dominance over the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria is undoubtedly the primary struggle in this context. The All Progressives Congress (APC) remains dissatisfied with its loss to the NNPP in the 2023 elections and is determined to reclaim the state in 2027. Observers of the political landscape suggest that the APC’s aggressive efforts to attract NNPP leaders and undermine the party may be a calculated tactic to realize this objective.
Recently, APC’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, expressed confidence that the party would secure victory in the state in 2027, particularly following the defection of prominent NNPP figures in Kano to the APC. However, NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, asserted that Kwankwaso has no intentions of joining the APC in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections, emphasizing that the former presidential candidate has never considered aligning with the ruling party or the administration led by Bola Tinubu.
