SENATOR Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has finally broken his silence over mounting reports suggesting that he may be preparing to exit the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid the party’s lingering legal crisis.
News Point Nigeria had earlier reported that following the recent disputes rocking the opposition ADC, the former Kano State governor was considering a possible move to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to political feelers, Kwankwaso and Peter Obi are plotting to join the NDC next week, with close allies of both political heavyweights reportedly giving strong indications that this may become their new political direction.
Reacting to the development in a statement posted late Saturday on his verified social media handles, Kwankwaso acknowledged that the same type of crisis that forced him and his supporters out of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) was now affecting the ADC.
He disclosed that consultations were already ongoing across political circles and admitted that discussions had commenced with leaders of the NDC.
Kwankwaso, however, urged his supporters to remain calm and watch out for the next line of action, which he said would be announced soon.
“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 stated.
“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.”
The former governor explained that the recent Supreme Court judgment, although affirming the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC), also returned the matter to the High Court, thereby leaving the party in what he described as a precarious position.
According to him, the situation became more complicated after a Federal High Court reportedly ruled to delegitimise the party’s recent convention, while the Attorney General of the Federation also applied to a Federal High Court seeking the deregistration of the ADC.
“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 said.
“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.”
Kwankwaso also moved to clarify speculations surrounding the issue of the ADC presidential ticket, stressing that he had not taken any decision to contest for the presidency.
“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 stated.
“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.”
The former governor further maintained that the ADC had not yet zoned its presidential ticket or taken any official decision regarding a candidate.
“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 added.
Kwankwaso also explained that his absence from the two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings was due to unavoidable personal commitments, noting that he had already communicated his apologies to the party leadership.
“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 concluded.