ADC Crisis: Kwankwaso Denies Defection Rumours, Says No Decision Yet

Former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed reports suggesting he was on the verge of leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to another political party on a scheduled date, insisting that no final decision has been taken yet regarding his political future.

In a statement addressing what he described as “misleading narratives” in the public domain, Kwankwaso said ongoing discussions about a possible realignment within the party over its crisis were premature.

“We have noted recent media reports and discussions suggesting a possible realignment within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) due to the current challenges facing the party,” he said. “In light of the misleading narratives in the public domain, I wish to state categorically that no final decision has been taken regarding my political future or that of my political associates.”

Kwankwaso, however, pointed to recent legal developments affecting the party as a source of uncertainty, including a ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria which, according to him, affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) but returned the matter to a lower court.

“The recent Supreme Court judgment, while affirming the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC), also remitted the matter back to the High Court. This has left the party in a precarious position,” he stated.

He further disclosed that a ruling by the Federal High Court of Nigeria had invalidated the party’s recent convention, adding that a separate legal move by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to deregister the ADC had compounded the situation.

“The Federal High Court has recently ruled to delegitimise the party’s recent convention. The Attorney General of the Federation has also strangely applied to a Federal High Court to deregister the ADC,” he said.

Kwankwaso drew parallels between the ADC’s current predicament and the circumstances that led to his exit from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

“We left the NNPP due to externally influenced legal problems that made our stay perilous. The ADC has now also been forced into this difficulty,” he noted.

The former Defence Minister revealed that he and his political allies have begun consultations with other parties, including the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), to determine their next move.

“Consequently, like other major stakeholders, we have commenced wide-ranging consultations, including with leaders from the NDC, PRP and others to explore the best options for protecting our democratic interests. We shall announce our decision in the soonest possible time,” he said.

On speculation about his presidential ambition, Kwankwaso said he has neither declared interest nor endorsed any candidate, stressing that such discussions were premature.

“Furthermore, the ADC is yet to zone its presidential ticket or take any decision on a candidate. I have therefore neither declared any intention to run for president nor endorsed any aspirant. All speculations to the contrary are premature and unfounded,” he stated.

He also used the opportunity to highlight his history of party loyalty, referencing his role in past elections.

“I wish to recall my consistent record as a committed democrat. In the 2014 APC presidential primary, I came second to President Muhammadu Buhari (whom I fully supported to victory), with Atiku Abubakar third, Rochas Okorocha fourth, and the late Sam Nda-Isaiah fifth,” he said.

“Similarly, in 2019, I contested the PDP presidential ticket and immediately supported the winner, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, serving as the campaign’s coordinator in the North. I have always placed national interest and party unity above personal ambition.”

Kwankwaso also addressed his absence from recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings, attributing it to personal commitments.

“My absence from the two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings was due to unavoidable personal commitments. I promptly communicated my apologies to the party leadership,” he explained.

He assured supporters that any eventual decision regarding his political direction would be formally communicated.

“We shall continue to engage constructively at all levels. Any definitive position on our political direction will be communicated formally through official channels at the appropriate time,” he added.