A factional Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in Kano State, Jibril Doguwa, has hinted that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, may return to the All Progressives Congress.

Doguwa, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, stated that the recent visit of a stalwart of Kwankwaso group known as Kwankwasiyya, Abdulmumin Kofa, to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa could signal an imminent political realignment.

“There is a possibility that Kwankwaso wants to go back to the APC. No Kwankwasiyya member would meet Tinubu without the knowledge or approval of Kwankwaso,” he said.

Doguwa downplayed Kwankwaso’s recent criticisms of President Tinubu, noting that political alliances in the country were often fluid.

He said, “Being a critic of Tinubu doesn’t mean Kwankwaso can’t work with him. In politics, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. Maybe he’s just trying to remind the President of his responsibilities as a leader.”

The NNPP chairman maintained that the party still recognised Kwankwasiyya loyalists as members but insisted the it could survive without Kwankwaso.

Doguwa dismissed concerns over tensions in the party, stressing that defections were routine in Nigerian politics.

“We still recognise members of the Kwankwasiyya movement as NNPP members. But we will remain in the NNPP with or without Kwankwaso.

“There is no prominent politician in Nigeria who doesn’t have a record of switching parties,” he said.

Doguwa’s remarks came amid growing speculation of a possible alliance between Kwankwaso and Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, a report that has unsettled some NNPP members in Kano.

However, an NNPP chieftain in Ogun State, Chief Femi Aina, dismissed Doguwa’s position, insisting that Kwankwaso remained focused on his presidential ambition.

“In the NNPP, we have an open-door policy. If you align with our ideology, we are ready to work with you. But for now, we are standing alone. Kwankwaso is looking ahead to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we are with him all the way,” Aina said.

He also stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar didn’t pose any threat to Kwankwaso’s 2027 prospects, arguing that the NNPP’s upcoming manifesto would give it a decisive edge.

Aina said, “The APC is entrenched today, and to remove them from power, you need a completely different blueprint.

“So far, those in the coalition promising change haven’t offered anything new. Atiku is not a threat. By the time we release our new manifesto, Nigerians will see that we have the capacity to govern, and we have a leader who knows his onions.

“Our overwhelming votes in Kano during the last election were based on his record as governor. We will capitalise on that to unseat people who promise big and deliver little.” (Sunday PUNCH)