Rabiu Kwankwaso resigns from NNPP with ‘immediate effect’

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the National Leader and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has officially resigned from the party.

In a press statement issued via his official X handle on Sunday, March 29, 2026, the former Governor of Kano State cited the need for "strategic realignment" within the evolving political landscape as the primary driver for his exit.

The announcement marks a definitive end to his leadership of the NNPP, the platform on which he secured over 1.4 million votes in the previous general election.

The resignation follows months of internal friction and a series of high-profile consultative meetings between Kwankwaso and other key opposition figures.

On March 22, 2026, Kwankwaso hosted the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alongside Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson at his residence in Kano.

These discussions, which coincided with the Kwankwasiyya Sallah celebrations, have been widely interpreted by political analysts as the groundwork for a formidable opposition coalition or a potential merger ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.

In his formal resignation notice, Kwankwaso expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the party’s figurehead but emphasized that the current national trajectory necessitated a move to a new platform.

He stated: "Considering the current trajectory of the nation’s political landscape, which calls for strategic realignment, I have found it necessary to identify with another political platform that offers the best opportunity to effectively change the nation."

He extended appreciation to the NNPP National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, and the National Working Committee, while urging his followers within the Kwankwasiyya Movement to remain committed to their shared mission.

Beyond his meetings with Obi and Makinde, Kwankwaso has recently engaged in private consultations with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola. These interactions have fueled speculation regarding a "mega-party" formation aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

While Kwankwaso has not yet named his next political destination, sources close to the movement suggest that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is being seriously considered as a possible new home for the Kwankwasiyya structure.