A former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former Minister of Defence completed his registration at Gidan Kwankwasiyya along Miller Road in Bompai, Kano on Monday, where he was presented with his membership card.
The occasion drew a large gathering of party leaders and enthusiastic supporters, many of whom belong to the influential Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Top figures within the ADC were present at the event, including former Senate President and party chairman David Mark, National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi.
Also in attendance were Aminu Tambuwal, Rotimi Amaechi, Dino Melaye, John Odigie-Oyegun, and Emeka Ihedioha.
Shortly after completing his registration, Kwankwaso took to social media to signal his new political direction, writing: “New Dawn. We are ADC.”
His move came just a day after he formally resigned from the NNPP, the platform under which he contested the 2023 presidential election, finishing fourth.
He described his departure as part of a broader “strategic realignment” in response to the evolving political climate in the country.
“I wish to formally announce my resignation from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) with immediate effect,” he said in a personally signed statement.
“I seize this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the honour and privilege of serving as the Party’s National Leader and its Presidential Candidate in the 2023 General Elections.
“As a committed and bona fide member of the party, this was not an easy decision to make.
”However, considering the current trajectory of the nation’s political landscape, which calls for strategic realignment, I have found it necessary to identify with another political platform that offers the best opportunity to effectively change the nation.”
Kwankwaso’s defection positions him among leading opposition figures aligning under the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party has been adopted by a coalition seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who finished second and third respectively in the 2023 presidential race, had earlier joined the ADC, further strengthening the coalition.
Reacting to the development, Atiku welcomed Kwankwaso in a message posted online: “When men of conviction come together, power trembles. Welcome aboard.”
Before his formal defection, Kwankwaso reportedly held consultations with key stakeholders within the ADC, including Atiku, Obi, and Aregbesola, among others.
A dominant force in Kano politics, Kwankwaso rose through the ranks with the backing of the grassroots-driven Kwankwasiyya Movement, which has played a decisive role in shaping electoral outcomes in the state.
His political career has seen him move across major parties, culminating in his leadership of the NNPP during the 2023 elections, where he retained significant influence in the North-West.
That influence contributed to the victory of NNPP candidate Abba Yusuf in the Kano State governorship race, defeating the ruling APC in a closely contested election.
However, subsequent political disagreements led to Yusuf’s defection to the APC.
With Kwankwaso now firmly in the ADC, Kano State is once again expected to emerge as a major political battleground in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
