Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Resigns from NNPP to Lead Expanded ADC Coalition Against Ruling APC Ahead of 2027

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso defects from NNPP to ADC, vowing to challenge the APC in 2027. Read about his new "voter card" mandate and the growing opposition coalition.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 4:14 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from THISDAYLIVE

The Collapse of the APC-Kwankwaso Rapprochement

The political landscape of Northern Nigeria shifted significantly yesterday as Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ended months of speculation by formally registering as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). This move marks the definitive end of a long-standing, shadowy courtship with President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Negotiating since before the 2023 elections, talks reportedly collapsed due to mutual distrust and the APC’s recent "poaching" of Kwankwaso’s son-in-law, sitting Kano Governor Abba Yusuf. Kwankwaso has characterized these developments as a betrayal, prompting him to seek a new platform to maintain his formidable "Kwankwasiyya" political base.

Strict Mandates for Grassroots Mobilization

During the registration ceremony at his Miller Road residence in Kano, Kwankwaso issued a stern directive to his supporters regarding the 2027 electoral cycle. He declared that, moving forward, no person would be granted access to his residence without presenting both an ADC membership card and an INEC permanent voter card (PVC). This "gatekeeper" policy is intended to ensure that his vast grassroots following is not just ideologically aligned but administratively prepared for the ballot. Kwankwaso emphasized that while party registration is a critical first step, the ultimate goal is eligibility for the general election to "free Nigeria from the shackles" of current economic hardships.

The ADC as a "Rallying Point" for a New National Movement

The ADC’s National Chairman, David Mark, welcomed Kwankwaso, describing the event as a pivotal moment for Nigerian democracy. Mark argued that the APC’s current dominance poses a threat to the nation’s multi-party system and framed the ADC as a cohesive opposition capable of safeguarding democratic integrity. According to Mark, the future of Nigeria must be built through active participation rather than centralized control. The party is positioning itself as a "new national movement" that transcends ethnic and religious divides, extending an open invitation to civil society organizations and youth groups to join a broad anti-government coalition.