Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has dismissed reports suggesting he has concluded plans to defect from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Kwankwaso said no final decision has been taken regarding his political future or that of his associates.
In a statement shared on his X account, the former governor acknowledged ongoing discussions with leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
“We have commenced wide-ranging consultations… to explore the best options for protecting our democratic interests,” he said.
Kwankwaso cited the lingering leadership crisis within the ADC as a major factor behind the consultations.
He noted that the Supreme Court ruling, which affirmed the leadership of David Mark but returned parts of the dispute to the lower court, has left the party in a difficult position.
“The recent Supreme Court judgment, while affirming the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC), also remitted the matter back to the High Court. This has left the party in a precarious position,” he said.
The former governor also pointed to a Federal High Court ruling that invalidated the party’s recent convention, as well as moves by the Attorney General of the Federation to deregister the ADC.
He likened the situation to the legal challenges that earlier forced him out of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
“In addition, the Federal High Court has recently ruled to delegitimise the party’s recent convention. The Attorney General of the Federation has also strangely applied to a Federal High Court 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 added.
“Consequently, like other major stakeholders, we have commenced wide-ranging consultations — including with leaders from the NDC, PRP and others to explore the best options for protecting our democratic interests. We shall announce our decision in the soonest possible time,” he added.
On the 2027 presidential race, Kwankwaso said he has neither declared interest nor endorsed any aspirant.
He recalled finishing second in the 2014 APC presidential primary won by Muhammadu Buhari, and later supporting the winner. He also said he contested the 2019 PDP presidential primary before backing Atiku Abubakar.
He said, “On the issue of presidential candidacy, I wish to recall my consistent record as a committed democrat. In the 2014 APC presidential primary, I came second to President Muhammadu Buhari (whom I fully supported to victory), with Atiku Abubakar third, Rochas Okorocha fourth, and the late Sam Nda-Isaiah fifth.
“Similarly, in 2019, I contested the PDP presidential ticket and immediately supported the winner, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, serving as the campaign’s coordinator in the North. I have always placed national interest and party unity above personal ambition.”
He also clarified that his absence from recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings was due to personal commitments, noting that he had informed party leaders in advance.
Kwankwaso assured that any final decision on his political direction would be communicated officially at the appropriate time.
“Any definitive position on our political direction will be communicated formally through official channels,” he said.
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