NNPP denies Kwankwaso held defection talks with APC

The New Nigeria Peoples Party has dismissed claims that its National Leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, engaged in negotiations to defect to the All Progressives Congress.

The party said reports suggesting Kwankwaso made demands or overplayed his political influence during alleged talks with the APC were false and misleading.

Speculation about his possible defection intensified after Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, moved to the APC, with some sources alleging that differences arose between Kwankwaso and the ruling party over what they described as “high demands.”

Speaking on Arise TV, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Global Investment and Trade Company, Baba Yusuf, claimed Kwankwaso miscalculated his political leverage in the reported discussions, saying the former governor had “overreached.”

However, the NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, rejected the claims, insisting that Kwankwaso never entered into any talks with either the APC or President Bola Tinubu.

In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Johnson described the allegations as deliberate attempts to tarnish the party leader’s image.

“It is a blatant lie that Kwankwaso made demands or negotiated with the APC or Tinubu about defecting. That never happened,” he said.

Johnson added that Kwankwaso’s last meeting with the President was in 2024 and did not involve any discussion about switching parties.

He maintained that those spreading the rumours were trying to discredit the former Kano State governor and weaken his role within the opposition, stressing that Kwankwaso remains committed to the NNPP and to serving the public interest.