The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has expressed his willingness to welcome Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso should he choose to leave the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and return to the ruling party.
Ganduje made this known on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, during a visit by the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, at the APC national headquarters in Abuja. According to him, the APC is expanding its presence nationwide and would gladly accommodate the former NNPP presidential candidate if he opts to rejoin.
Speaking on the matter, Ganduje described Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, as “a fish out of water” in his current political position, hinting that it would be unkind to leave him abandoned.
He said, “The APC is deepening and widening democracy in the country. Kwankwaso is a fish out of water, trying to find its way back into the waters. We cannot say we can’t accommodate him, because a friend in need is a friend indeed. We don’t want to leave him completely abandoned. We can still have him in if he wants to join us.”
Ganduje further emphasized the moral obligation of offering refuge to a political associate seeking shelter. “When you see your son running to where he would get shelter and you are a big brother in a big home, I think it is morally right to accommodate him. So, we cannot say we cannot accommodate him,” he added.
Meanwhile, speculation about a possible political realignment intensified after Kwankwaso was spotted at Abuja airport with prominent APC figures, including Senate Deputy President Barau Jibrin and former Senate President Pius Anyim.
The chance encounter, which was described by one of Kwankwaso’s aides as a reflection of unity and mutual respect, has further fueled talks of his potential defection, particularly following reports of his alleged meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
