Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, will defect from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) next week, the Kwankwasiyya movement has informed TheCable.
Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya movement, told TheCable on Friday night that the decision was sealed after a unanimous endorsement by stakeholders.
Mohammed said discussions with the NDC have reached “about 90 percent”, with only minor issues left to tidy up, adding that the former governor and Peter Obi, 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), will move to the NDC on Monday or Tuesday.
“I believe him, Peter Obi, and some others will be joining the NDC,” Mohammed said.
Mohammed 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.
At the heart of the decision is the lingering ADC leadership imbroglio, TheCable understands
On Thursday, the supreme 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.
Mohammed said the apex court’s ruling only 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.
“The entire caucus voted unanimously that a better platform, not embedded in a leadership tussle, should be used.”
He said while both the NDC and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) were considered, stakeholders ultimately threw their weight behind the NDC.
Mohammed said there are three pending cases against the ADC at the federal high court, describing the legal landscape as too murky for comfort.
He also pointed to the ticking clock ahead of the deadline for submission of party membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as another factor that forced the movement’s hand.“Staying in ADC at this stage would amount to waiting for Godot,” he said.
Mohammed said the movement also weighed internal dynamics within ADC, including the reluctance among key actors to embrace a consensus candidate.
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OBI’S SILENCE AFTER THE IBADAN DECLARATION
Since the All Opposition Political Party Leaders summit in Ibadan, Oyo state, late last month, Obi has not attended any subsequent ADC meetings.
TheCable reported that the former Anambra governor was displeased that zoning was not debated at the gathering.
Obi, who has consistently demanded zoning of the presidential ticket since he joined the ADC last year, argues that failure to address equity and power rotation weakens the coalition and fuels distrust among stakeholders.
In April, supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso launched the “OK Movement” to mobilise support for a joint ticket of both politicians in the upcoming elections.
Leaders of the movement told TheCable that Obi and Kwankwaso sanctioned the idea.
The Cable