…confirms ongoing negotiations with NDC, PRP
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has broken his silence on the reports about his move to exit the African Democratic Congress.
Following the recent legal dispute in the opposition ADC, the former Kano governor has been making moves to join Nigeria Democratic Congress.
From reliable sources, Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate in the last general elections, are plotting to join the NDC next week.
Allies of the two political heavyweights have given strong indication that this is their new direction.
Kwankwaso in his reaction in a statement posted on his verified social media handles late Saturday, said the crisis which made him and his followers pull out of the New Nigerian Peoples Party was now affecting ADC.
He said as a result of this, he has been consulting widely, admitting that discussions were ongoing with NDC.
Kwankwaso asked his supporters to watch out for the next line of action, which he said would be taken soon.
He stated, “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.
“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 recent Supreme Court judgment, while affirming the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC), also remitted the matter back to the High Court. This has left the party in a precarious position.
In addition, the Federal High Court has recently ruled to delegitimise the party’s recent convention. The Attorney General of the Federation has also strangely applied to a Federal High Court to deregister the ADC.
“We left the NNPP due to externally influenced legal problems that made our stay perilous. The ADC has now been also forced into this difficulty.
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 clarified the the issue of presidential candidacy in the ADC, emphasising that he had not taken a decision to contest the ticket.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“My absence from the two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings was due to unavoidable personal commitments. I promptly communicated my 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.”
