Ganduje: Kwankwaso free to rejoin APC, but compliance Is non-negotiable

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said the ruling party would not oppose the reported plan by former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to return, provided he abides by the party’s rules.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, Ganduje, also a former governor of Kano, explained that democracy accommodates all categories of people and that the APC remains open to anyone willing to come back.

According to him, “In democracy, the vote of a thief and that of a cleric carries equal weight.

“So we won’t reject anyone who wants to join. But they must follow due process. We have rules and a constitution.

“If they come back, we will welcome them, but we will also call it what it is—they’ve vomited and now they’re licking it back.”

Speculations have been rife that Kwankwaso, who currently leads the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has begun discussions with APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, about a possible return. Ganduje, however, stressed that the APC remains guided strictly by its constitution and that compliance with established procedures would be mandatory for any returnee.

He also spoke about Thursday’s APC stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, saying it was convened to review the reasons behind the party’s loss in Kano during the 2023 elections and to express appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his developmental initiatives and political appointments in the state.

Ganduje dismissed claims of a rift with President Tinubu, which had been linked to his resignation as APC national chairman.

He said positions within the party are often shared across geopolitical zones, and if a role is assigned elsewhere, it is not a cause for dispute.

He described his relationship with the president as cordial, noting that both remain committed to working together to strengthen the APC and reclaim Kano in 2027.

The former chairman also maintained that divisions within the Kano APC have been resolved, insisting that the crisis was never as deep as it was portrayed.