Introduction to the Controversy
Notable stakeholder in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Engineer Buba Galadima, has derisively dismissed claims that the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was planning a return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He said that the NNPP has been giving Nigerians an insight into what the party has to offer by way of responsive and responsible governance, adding that only political failures talk about the next election in the middle of their terms.
APC’s Claims of Kwankwaso’s Return
APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, recently predicted Kwankwaso’s return to APC, stressing that the former Presidential contender was set to make a detour after a disastrous outing that collapsed the NNPP. Ganduje, who made the remarks while receiving in audience, the Tinubu Support Group, who paid him a courtesy call at the APC national secretariat, Abuja, said APC has continued to receive prominent political actors, including federal lawmakers. He added the party was eagerly waiting for the NNPP’s former presidential candidate, Kwankwaso to return to the ruling party.
Galadima’s Response
But, speaking to The Guardian on the alleged plans to move over to APC, Galadima said that it was only by the grace of President Bola Tinubu that a character like the former Kano State governor should be chairman of a national party. While asserting that no sane person in Kano or any part of the country should be proud to associate with APC under Ganduje, stressing that the APC national chairman likes to use NNPP to gain media visibility.
Galadima’s Statement
“I am hearing this from you. So, if we are going to APC Nigerians will hear this from Ganduje? Even because of him, nobody would like to go to APC. It is only Tinubu that can make a Ganduje chairman of a party. How can Ganduje be chairman of anything? They are the people who are keeping us in the press because they are confused, everything is going asunder across the country. These are the same people that use the social media and propaganda to denigrate us in NNPP. If they are not claiming that Kwankwaso is working for President Tinubu, they will gossip that Kwankwaso is going to France to lobby Mr. President,” Galadima stated.
Denial of Plans to Return to APC
He flatly denied any plans or discussion for a return to APC, stressing, “there is nothing like that, I can tell you as a matter of fact.” Ganduje had asserted that faced with the likelihood of failure in their efforts to forge a coalition, most opposition politicians are reaching out to APC for certain concessions and membership.
Conclusion
The claims of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s return to the APC have been dismissed by Engineer Buba Galadima, a notable stakeholder in the NNPP. Galadima has stated that the NNPP is focused on providing responsive and responsible governance, and that there are no plans for Kwankwaso to return to the APC. The APC’s claims of Kwankwaso’s return appear to be a attempt to gain media visibility and to create confusion among the opposition parties.
FAQs
- Is Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso planning to return to the APC?
- No, according to Engineer Buba Galadima, there are no plans for Kwankwaso to return to the APC.
- Why did APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, claim that Kwankwaso was returning to the APC?
- Ganduje’s claims appear to be an attempt to gain media visibility and to create confusion among the opposition parties.
- What is the focus of the NNPP?
- The NNPP is focused on providing responsive and responsible governance.
