Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has moved to quash growing speculation that he and his followers are preparing to abandon the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying no final decision has been made regarding his political future.
In a written clarification circulated to the media and party stakeholders, Kwankwaso said recent reports suggesting a realignment were misleading and premature. “I wish to state categorically that no final decision has been taken regarding my political future or that of my political associates,” he said.
The statement comes against the backdrop of a series of court decisions and legal threats that Kwankwaso says have placed the ADC in a “precarious position.” He pointed to a recent Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) but remitted the matter back to the High Court, as well as a Federal High Court ruling that delegitimised the party’s recent convention. Kwankwaso also noted that the Attorney General of the Federation has filed an application at a Federal High Court seeking to deregister the ADC.
“We left the NNPP due to externally influenced legal problems that made our stay perilous. The ADC has now been also forced into this difficulty,” he said, recalling the circumstances that led his group to leave the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) previously.
Kwankwaso said, in response to the current uncertainty, he and other major stakeholders have begun “wide-ranging consultations” with leaders from the New Democratic Congress (NDC), the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and others to explore options for safeguarding their democratic interests. He said any definitive position will be communicated “in the soonest possible time.”
On the question of presidential ambition, Kwankwaso stressed his long record as a party loyalist and team player. He reminded readers that in the 2014 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary he finished second to Muhammadu Buhari — whom he subsequently supported — and that in 2019 he contested the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket but threw his support behind Atiku Abubakar and served as the North coordinator for Atiku’s campaign. “I have always placed national interest and party unity above personal ambition,” he declared.
He also said the ADC has yet to zone its presidential ticket or adopt any candidate, adding: “I have therefore neither declared any intention to run for president nor endorsed any aspirant. All speculations to the contrary are premature and unfounded.”
Addressing his absence from recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings, Kwankwaso said the reason was “unavoidable personal commitments” and that he had earlier tendered his apologies to party leadership.
The former Kano State governor and one-time Minister of Defence concluded by promising continued constructive engagement at all levels and confirmed that any formal decisions would be announced through official channels.
Requests for comment from the ADC leadership were not immediately returned. Observers say the party’s legal entanglements and the strategic consultations by Kwankwaso and other figures could shape alignments ahead of the next general elections.
Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, PhD, FNSE
Former Governor, Kano State
Former Minister of Defence
