The national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has warned party members against defection, declaring that political betrayal has never produced lasting success.
Gatekeepers News reports that Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, made the remarks at his residence during a gathering of supporters, where he addressed reports that some party members are planning to leave the NNPP.
His comments come amid widespread speculation that the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, is concluding plans to abandon the Kwankwasiyya Movement and align with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a viral video from the meeting, Kwankwaso said he was not surprised by the alleged moves, insisting that history offers clear lessons to politicians who abandon the parties and movements that brought them to prominence.
“I want to remind those who left us that nobody has betrayed us and succeeded,” Kwankwaso said. “Political history is very clear on this matter. Those who think they can rise by betraying the people and the movement they came from should reflect deeply.”
He stressed that defections would not weaken the NNPP, maintaining that the party’s strength lies with the people rather than with individual office holders.
“I am not disturbed by these developments,” he added. “What matters most is the support of the masses, not the movement of a few politicians who are pursuing personal interests.”
Kwankwaso also cited the large turnout of supporters at the gathering as evidence that the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement continue to enjoy strong grassroots support across Kano State.
“You can see with your own eyes the number of people who came here today,” he said. “This shows that our movement is alive, strong and firmly rooted among the people of Kano.”
Despite growing speculation over possible defections, Kwankwaso said the NNPP remains committed to its core principles and will continue to serve as a platform for progressive politics in Kano State and beyond.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf nor the Kano State Government had officially responded to claims of an imminent defection to the APC.
