As preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has announced a bold plan to reduce the All Progressives Congress (APC) to a mere shadow of its former self in Kano State.
Kwankwaso stated that his party would work tirelessly to ensure that the ruling APC secures fewer than 15,000 votes in the state by the 2027 elections, much like the NNPP’s success in relegating the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to a meager 15,000 votes in the 2023 elections.
The former governor of Kano made this declaration while addressing delegates from the Kano North senatorial district at his Miller Road Mansion in Kano. He acknowledged the hard work and dedication of his party during the 2023 elections, which saw the PDP struggling to gain support despite its long-standing presence in the state. Notably, the NNPP achieved this feat despite being a relatively new political force with a late start to its campaign.
Kwankwaso emphasized that the next goal is to strip the APC of its influence in the state. “Now, it’s time to diminish APC’s influence. We will work tirelessly to ensure their votes are reduced to less than 15,000 in Kano by 2027,” he declared.
He stressed the importance of grassroots mobilization and dedicated efforts from all party members to solidify the NNPP’s standing as a dominant political entity in Kano and across the nation. Kwankwaso urged his supporters to stay focused on their mission and deliver results that would guarantee the success of the NNPP in future elections.
During the visit, Abdul Bichi, the leader of the NNPP delegates, spoke to the media, explaining that the purpose of the visit was to reaffirm their loyalty to Kwankwaso and to sever ties with former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi. Abdul confirmed that they had distanced themselves from Dr. Bichi since his removal from office.
“We were once supporters of the former SSG, and we hail from the same constituency. But since his departure from the government, we have chosen to align ourselves fully with Kwankwaso. We are here today to renew our loyalty to him and confirm that we are not leaving the party, nor are we following the former SSG,” Abdul stated.
The rift with Dr. Bichi arose after he was accused of leading a faction advocating for Governor Abba Yusuf to assert greater control over the government, allegedly against Kwankwaso’s influence. This internal conflict led to Bichi’s suspension from the party and the subsequent loss of his position as SSG. While the government cited health reasons for his removal, the internal dispute was widely viewed as the true cause of his ouster.