NNPP formidable enough to diminish APC’s influence in 2027 — Kwankwaso

The 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said the party is formidable enough to relegate the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano.

The leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement vowed to diminish APC’s influence in the next general election, reducing its vote count below the 2023 presidential poll results in the state.

Kwankwaso made the pledge on Wednesday while receiving members of the NNPP from the Kano North senatorial district at his Miller Road Mansion in Kano.

The two-term governor stressed the political strength of the NNPP in Kano and other northern states, maintaining that if the party could be strong enough to send the APC out of power in the last general election, it would deliver an even worse embarrassment in 2027.

Kwankwaso said, “If PDP could struggle hard to secure only 15,000 votes in Kano in the 2023 presidential election, APC will not only receive below expectations but also the most embarrassing votes in the 2027 elections in Kano.

“NNPP achieved tremendous success in both the presidential and governorship elections despite being a new political platform with a late start to its campaign. APC will be diminished in Kano in 2027.”

The former governor challenged party loyalists to redouble their dedication to grassroots mobilisation to solidify the NNPP’s position as a dominant political force in Kano and beyond. He encouraged his supporters to remain focused on delivering results that would secure the party’s success in future elections.

The leader of the delegates, Alhaji Abdul Bichi, told journalists they visited the Miller Road Mansion to renew their loyalty to the national leader of the NNPP and distance themselves from former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Abdullahi Baffa Bichi.

Abdul, who was part of the new political movement formed by the former SSG calling for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to reject alleged interference by Kwankwaso in his administration, said they had parted ways with Dr Bichi since his removal from office.

“It is true we are supporters of the former SSG, and we are from the same constituency as Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi. But we have decided to distance ourselves from him since he is no longer with the government.

“We have come here to see our national leader and founder of Kwankwaso in solidarity and to renew our total loyalty to him. We have come to say we are not leaving our party. We are not going with the SSG,” Abdul said.

Governor Yusuf announced the removal of the former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) as SSG on health grounds, along with the Chief of Staff and five commissioners.