Kano APC Urges Kwankwaso to Apologize to Tinubu and Shettima Before Returning

The Kano State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a clear ultimatum to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, insisting that he must apologize without reservation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima if he wishes to return to the party.

This demand arises amidst rumors of Kwankwaso potentially rejoining the APC after spending years opposing it with the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), where he ran for president in 2023.

In a statement to the press in Kano, a senior party member, who preferred to remain anonymous, emphasized that Kwankwaso’s previous comments and actions against the APC and its leadership cannot be overlooked. “Before any talks of his return can commence, he is required to publicly apologize to President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima. The party will not accept someone who has consistently undermined its authority,” the official remarked.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and head of the Kwankwasiyya movement, has had a tumultuous relationship with the APC since leaving the party. His recent political activities, which include a meeting with President Tinubu in Paris and remarks about diminishing APC’s electoral strength in Kano, have sparked sharp criticism from party loyalists.

In December 2024, Kwankwaso claimed he would reduce the APC’s support in Kano to less than 15,000 votes by the time of the 2027 general elections, a statement that was met with widespread condemnation from APC stakeholders. The then-chairman of Kano APC referred to Kwankwaso as a “political refugee” and dismissed his claims as unfounded.

This current backlash adds to the ongoing rivalry between the APC and the Kwankwasiyya faction, which still holds considerable sway in Kano’s political landscape.

Although neither Kwankwaso nor the NNPP has officially responded to the APC’s demand for an apology, political analysts suggest that this request highlights the deep-seated distrust that remains between the two sides.

As preparations for the 2027 general elections get underway, the political trajectory of Kwankwaso and his potential reaffiliation with the ruling party remains a hotly debated issue in Kano and beyond.