In a shocking turn of events, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has announced his resignation from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), with immediate effect.
He is currently eying the Abuja seat of power under the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The former Kano State Governor and 2023 Presidential Candidate of NNPP made the announcement through a press statement issued on March 29, 2026 which was sighted by News Emperor.
Kwankwaso cited the need for strategic realignment in Nigeria’s political landscape as the reason for his departure, seeking a platform that offers the best opportunity to drive change in the country. Meanwhile, his resignation has sent shockwaves across the political scene, with speculation ramping up about his next move as sources alleged.
The NNPP leader expressed gratitude to party members, including the faction servers National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, and other leaders, for their support during his tenure.
He also thanked followers of the Kwankwasiya Movement for their dedication to their shared mission.
Kwankwaso’s resignation comes amid rumors of him joining forces with other prominent figures, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, El-Rufai, Ameaichi, Aregbesola, David Mark, and others in the Alliance for Democratic Change (ADC) to challenge President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The move, our sources alleged, has sparked fears within the APC and President Tinubu’s camp, with concerns about the potential impact of Kwankwaso’s influence and the ADC’s growing strength on the ruling party’s chances in the next election.
In another development, the founder of the party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam who saw Kwankwaso’s movement to ADC as a releave to NNPP, said no member of NNPP will be going with him to the new party.
The founder insists that members of the party are not part of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s planned defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Dr. Aniebonam made this known in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kwankwaso in a statement on Sunday, formally announced his resignation from the NNPP with immediate effect.
“I seize this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the honour and privilege of serving as the NNPP 2023 Presidential Candidate. As a committed and bonafide member of the party, this was not an easy decision to make.
“However, considering the current trajectory of the nation’s political landscape, which calls for strategic realignment, I have found it necessary to identify with another political platform that offers the best opportunity to effectively change the nation’ Kwankwaso hd said
Kwankwaso, will be officially joining the ADC on Monday, March 30.
Recall that in a memo on Saturday, Dr Ahmed Ajuji, NNPP former national chairman and member of the Kwankwasiya Movement, urged the NNPP NWC members, State Chairmen and SWC members, as well as all office holders of the party from National to Ward levels to remain in their respective positions and continue their work within the party,.
Ajuji had said that except for those, who wished to resign and pursue other political careers, others should remain in NNPP as there are moves to unify the NNPP and withdraw all litigations.
Aniebonam said that in spite wishing Kwankwaso good luck in his endeavors, the NNPP will not be his fall back party if he failed in the ADC.
“We re not joining ADC. Some of our members went to APC. Only members of the Kwankwasiya movement left may join their leader to the ADC.
“Ajuji and members of the Kwankwasiya movement, including Kwankwaso and Elder Buba Galadima have long been expelled from the NNPP. We won our court cases against them. Ajuji, therefore, cannot tell us what to do.
“Most of our members, including our sole governor, Yusuf Ahmed of Kano State, left for the APC because of our escalating court cases and Kwankwaso’s high handness.
“It is, therefore, funny to see Ajuji, signing such a memo when we all know he belongs to the Kwankwasiya movement.
“The NNPP will not accept Kwankwaso back into its fold nor allow him to ever fly our flag again for whatever position.”
Aniebonam. noted that from the body language, it is obvious that the few people left of the Kwankwasiya movement do not even believe in the ADC or Kwankwaso’s ability to survive there.
“What we saw in Kano is a hired crowd. The same crowd will be there for other political parties. Most of our members in Kano state are now in APC and we do not hold it against them.
“The NNPP has already begun consultations with aspirants for the 2027 presidential elections. All aspirants will have to undergo our primaries unlike in 2023 when we handed over our presidential ticket to Kwankwaso for free and, who later betrayed us.
“We will not make the same mistakes again. The NNPP is willing to accept members, who defected back into its fold but never those expelled for anti party activities.
“We are actually relieved to see Kwankwaso join a new party as that will usher in the peace that had long eluded members ever since Kwankwaso began his moves to hijack the NNPP.
“We are also not averse to collaborations with parties of similar ideologies but all.that would be decided by members in the build up to the 2027 general elections,” Aniebonam added.