By Emeka Onyia
As the 2027 presidential race gathers momentum, political heavyweights across the six geopolitical zones have started bracing up, aligning and re-aligning forces amongst themselves in a move to ensure that whoever emerges the next president of Nigeria protect their interest and that of their followers.
Even the sitting President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his think-tanks are not sleeping over the imminent political Tsunami awaiting to explode come 2027 presidential and other elections.
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The political calculations by the opposition parties recently gave birth to what many have described as a formidable coalition christened the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has recorded a heavy rollcall of political heavyweights such as former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi; Rauf Aregbosola; David Mark; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; former Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; former Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, among many others.
Interestingly, the ADC coalition has swallowed almost all vibrant opposition political parties, except the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), where former Kano state Governor and former Minister of Defence, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso stands tall as the National Leader. Kwankwaso was the Presidential candidate of NNPP in the 2023 presidential election during which time he scored a remarkable political point. It is also important to note that the ADC coalition has magnated high profile politicians in the ruling APC.
Today, political pundits have branded Kwankwaso “the beautiful bride” ahead 2027 presidential election as both the ADC coalition and the ruling APC are jostling to grab his support owing to the fact that he is not only the strong man of Kano politics, but a political force to reckon with across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria’s political horizon. He has been steadfast in building the Kwankwasiyya Political movement and the NNPP, silently conquering the political quest of the masses across Nigeria, as the Kwankwasiyya Movement has recorded full presence across all the Local Government Areas in Nigeria.
The ruling APC and the presidency are not sleeping as they keep lobbying for Kwankwaso’s support and the nod to join the Tinubu train, with a juicy promise of the Vice Presidential candidate slot. Their quest has gone as far as sacrificing the position of former Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as the National Chairman of APC, since it was widely believed that Ganduje, estranged political godson to Kwankwaso, who betrayed his political benefactor, was using his position as APC National Chairman to stop talks with Kwankwaso to join the party.
A fortnight ago, Ganduje was forced to resign as APC National Chairman so as to pave way for Kwankwaso to succumb to President Tinubu’s pressure. Kwankwaso and Tinubu are long-term political associates, dating back even before their meeting as Governors of Kano and Lagos in 1999. Infact, a top security chief, at the orders of President Tinubu handed Ganduje his resignation letter as APC National Chairman, in the midnight, at his house in Abuja, forcing him to silently resign to pave way for the Presidency to finalize talks with Senator Kwankwaso. Though Ganduje had lied he resigned on health grounds! The discussions are still ongoing as it was gathered that President Tinubu has sworn to do everything possible in wooing Kwankwaso to his side, considering his political sagacity, not only in Kano where he command total respect, but across the entire country, where Kwankwaso has silently instilled the political philosophy of the Kwankwasiyya Movement in the heart of the masses.
The ADC coalition are also losing sleep, as they keep lobbying Senator Kwankwaso to join their train. Already, the coalition leaders are holding meetings with Kwankwaso, begging him to join their train for a better Nigeria. Indeed, Kwankwaso’s coveted political figure will tilt the scales in the fiercely competitive northern region as the 2027 general elections draw near. If he chooses to align with the ADC coalition, the ruling APC will definitely face a very big challenge. Stakeholders in the ADC coalition have confirmed that efforts are being made to win Senator Kwankwaso to their side and secure Kano state’s mega votes in the 2027 election. They have held several meetings with Kwankwaso in order to sink the NNPP ship and brighten the chances of the ADC coalition. The meetings were, largely, to negotiate potential support for opposition to topple President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. Confirming efforts to win Senator Kwankwaso over to the ADC coalition camp, Babachir Lawal, a former SGF and a big figure in the ADC coalition said: “It will be a big advantage if he (Kwankwaso) joins us. Some people are reaching out to him. I know people are meeting him. Obviously, he is welcome (into the ADC coalition) because he is in the category of those who will come with a large number of supporters. Either as Kwankwaso and his supporters or as Kwankwanso and the NNPP. Either way, they are welcome.”
Interestingly, Kwankwaso is not being sort for by all for nothing. He is a Nigerian politician with notable qualities that have shaped his career. He is a charismatic leader. Kwankwaso is viewed as a charismatic populist, enjoying widespread support in Kano, the North, and across Nigeria. He has a significant following in Kano, demonstrated by his ability to mobilize large crowds and influence electoral outcomes. Kwankwaso attributes his leftist economic views to the late Mallam Aminu Kano, a prominent socialist politician from Kano, and is considered socially conservative. Kwankwaso has navigated multiple party affiliations, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and currently, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
As a Governor in Kano, Kwankwaso initiated various infrastructure projects, such as constructing roads, hospitals, and schools, and sending residents to study abroad. He prioritizes education, introducing free education at all levels in Kano State and establishing institutions like the Kano University of Science and Technology, now Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil; the North-West University, and many other tertiary institutions, and Skills Acquisition Centres in Kano.
Through the Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation, Kwankwaso supports young people with scholarships and financial assistance. Overall, Kwankwaso’s political qualities reflect a complex mix of strengths, foresight, kindness, and empowerment that have shaped his career and influence in Nigerian politics.
Before becoming Governor of Kano state in 1999, Kwankwaso served as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the aborted Third Republic. Between 2003 and 2007, Kwankwaso served as a Defence Minister. He later returned as Kano state Governor in 2011, after which he secured a seat at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly where he represented Kano Central Senatorial District. He sponsored bills and carried out gigantic projects that had direct impacts on the lives of the people, particularly, the less privileged.
Despite unguided efforts by the immediate-past APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who was his two-term Deputy Governor and political benefactor to diminish his political profile, Senator Kwankwaso continue to shine even brighter in Nigeria’s political space. Pundits believe that wherever Senator Kwankwaso’s support goes will surely get victory come 2027 presidential and other elections. No wonder the ruling APC and the ADC coalition are not sleeping until they grab the support of Senator Kwankwaso—the Game Changer— the Grand Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Onyia, a Public Affairs analyst writes from Awka, Anambra state
