• Why he is accusing Tinubu of marginalizing North
By Abiola Olawale
As political permutations toward the 2027 general elections deepen, indications have emerged that former Governor of Kano State and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, may throw his hat in the ring in the unfolding battle for the presidency
This comes as Kwankwaso, an influential leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, and strongman of Kano politics is said to be gearing up for another shot at the presidency, despite speculations of a potential political alliance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Findings reveal that Kwankwaso is quietly consolidating his political base and mobilizing the NorthWest ahead of 2027 with the likelihood that he might run for the presidency again.
The New Diplomat reports that Kwankwaso, a seasoned politician with a formidable grassroots following in Kano State, is no stranger to presidential contests.
Said an insider: ” Since former President Buhari’s demise, there is no politician today in Nigeria that commanded cult-following like Buhari with a ready 12million votes…So key Northern bigwigs like Kwankwaso are eyeing the vacuum to see if they can gain some considerable following.”
Recall that in 2023, he ran under the NNPP, securing a total of 1,496,687 votes, with a commanding performance in Kano State.
Despite finishing fourth, his influence in the North-West, a region critical for electoral success due to its high voter turnout, remains undeniable.
In the post 2023 presidential election scenario, there have been speculations about a potential alliance between Kwankwaso and Tinubu.
These speculations were further fueled and indeed escalated by reports of close-door meetings in Paris and Abuja. These reports had indicated that Tinubu might have sought Kwankwaso’s support to bolster the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s prospects in the North-West geo-political zone of the country.
The New Diplomat’s checks indicate that the Kano political strongman may have been offered a high-profile political role in the countdown to 2027.
However, recent political developments appear to suggest that these talks may have either collapsed or remain inconclusive.
Recall that while speaking in Kano State on Thursday, Kwankwaso, who is the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement accused the Tinubu administration of neglecting the North and channelling national resources into developing the Southern region, where the president hails from.
“Let me advise those who are struggling by all means to take everything to remember that some of the issues that we have in this part of the country today have to do with the lack of enough resources and mismanagement of the little that comes in. That is why we have insecurity, we have poverty, and so on. It is happening here mainly, but like a desert, it would go everywhere,” he said.
Kwankwaso had also said most roads in the North were in deplorable condition, while the APC-led government continued to allocate massive funds for infrastructure in the South.
He added: “Yesterday (Wednesday), I was to come by air, but unfortunately, my airline decided to shift our takeoff from 3pm to 8pm. I had to come by road. From Abuja to Kaduna to Kano was a hell.”
However, in a swift response, the Presidency rejected Kwankwaso’s claims, labeling them “inaccurate and misleading.”
In a statement on Friday, July 25, 2025, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, asserted that Northern Nigeria remains a priority for the Tinubu administration.
He cited ongoing mega road projects such as the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, Sokoto-Badagry Expressway, and the Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina Road, among others.
According to political watchers, these back and forth statements appear to show that there has been either a breakdown or deadlock in communication between Tinubu and Kwankwaso.
Sources knowledgeable about the matter believe a key factor in the breakdown has to do with the immediate past National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Despite Ganduje’s exit in June 2025, Kwankwaso appears uninterested in aligning with Tinubu, said to be focusing instead on consolidating his base and exploring opposition coalitions in the build up to 2027.
Recall that Kwankwaso and Ganduje have not been on good terms despite both hailing from Kano.
Also, the source revealed that another reason for the communication breakdown is that the opposition is strongly and actively wooing Kwankwaso to strengthen its chances against Tinubu in 2027.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led coalition, which includes figures like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, is said to be courting Kwankwaso as a “beautiful bride” due to his influence in the North-West.
Additionally, Kwankwaso’s recent meeting with Rauf Aregbesola, a former Osun State governor and Tinubu’s estranged ally, has also fueled the speculations about a broader opposition strategy.
The meeting, described as a discussion on “national politics and governance,” hints at Kwankwaso exploring alliances outside the APC to give a run for the presidency in 2027.
Speaking on the development, a Kano-based political analyst, Dr Aminu Hayatu, who was quoted by Daily Trust, and as reported by the newspaper, had this to say about Kwankwaso’s latest moves:
“If you observe Kwankwaso’s body language and what has been transpiring between him and Tinubu, you’ll see that Tinubu wants him in his camp. But Kwankwaso has his calculations. He could have moved to the APC already, but he’s holding back because it’s too early.”
He added:“It’s a political gamble. He’s buying time to observe developments. His calculation isn’t just about Tinubu, it’s also about the evolving dynamics in the opposition. He’s watching carefully to decide where to throw his weight.”
