Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai met with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), in Abuja on Friday, April 25, 2025, sparking widespread speculation about Kwankwaso’s potential return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The meeting, which took place after Jumaat prayers at a mosque in the nation’s capital, was attended by El-Rufai’s eldest son, Hon. Bello El-Rufai, according to The Nation.
The encounter comes amid rumors that Kwankwaso, the former Kano State governor and 2023 NNPP presidential candidate, has finalized a deal with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rejoin the APC along with his political base, the Kwankwasiyya movement. Political observers suggest that such a move could significantly bolster Tinubu’s re-election prospects in the 2027 general elections, given Kwankwaso’s strong influence in Kano, a state with one of Nigeria’s largest voting populations. Leadership reported that the meeting follows intense speculation about Kwankwaso’s political realignment, particularly after recent defections of PDP heavyweights like Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the APC.
Kwankwaso’s history with the APC adds context to the rumors. He defected from the PDP to the APC in 2013, playing a pivotal role in its formation, but left in 2018 due to disagreements with his successor, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje. His subsequent move to the NNPP in 2022 led to a strong showing in the 2023 presidential election, securing nearly 1.5 million votes, primarily from Kano. Sources cited by Punch indicate that Kwankwaso is unlikely to contest independently in 2027, with the NNPP weighing options to either join Tinubu’s APC or align with an opposition coalition led by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and El-Rufai.
El-Rufai’s role in the meeting is notable, given his own complex relationship with the APC. After being sidelined from a ministerial position in Tinubu’s administration and facing allegations of financial mismanagement by the Kaduna State Assembly, El-Rufai defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in March 2025. However, his meeting with Kwankwaso suggests he may be facilitating negotiations for Tinubu, possibly to counter the opposition coalition he was previously linked to. X posts, such as @Alameen___Abba’s, humorously speculated on El-Rufai’s reaction to Kwankwaso’s potential APC return, while @Ilesanm50940083 suggested Tinubu might use Kwankwaso as a “replacement” for El-Rufai to secure Northern support.
The NNPP has downplayed defection talks, with National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson telling Punch that the party will finalize its strategy by May 29, 2025, the midterm of Tinubu’s administration. Meanwhile, Kwankwaso’s allies, like Kano NNPP Chairman Hashimu Dungurawa, described the meeting as a “brotherly reunion” of progressive politicians, though political motives remain suspected. Critics, including APC chieftain Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, dismissed Kwankwaso’s influence, alleging he aligns with power for personal gain.
The meeting underscores Nigeria’s fluid political landscape, with Tinubu’s APC aggressively consolidating power through defections, as seen in Delta and potentially Kano. However, Kwankwaso’s strained relationship with Ganduje and the NNPP’s internal crises, including his expulsion by a faction, could complicate any deal. As 2027 approaches, the El-Rufai-Kwankwaso encounter signals strategic maneuvering that could reshape the electoral battleground, with Kano’s votes as a critical prize.
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