ACF Slams Kwankwaso Over ‘New Messiah’ Claim, Says He’s “Delusional

According to Ireporter Online, the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Tukur Mohammed-Baba, has criticised the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, over his recent comments comparing himself to historical Northern icons such as the late Sarduana of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, and Aminu Kano.

Mohammed-Baba, speaking during an interview on Arise Television, described Kwankwaso’s remarks as inappropriate and “delusional,” insisting that the figures he referenced operated within distinct historical and political contexts that cannot be replicated today. He argued that it was wrong for Kwankwaso to position himself as a successor or “new messiah” of the North, warning that such comparisons could diminish his political relevance in the region.

“He has been saying the wrong things, talking about Sarduana, Aminu Kano, saying he is the new Messiah and I think that in the North that is very irreverent because you can’t compare yourself to those people, they operated in the context of their time. It will be highly delusional of him to go that far and say he present an alternative,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Kwankwasiyya Movement has dismissed reports alleging that Kwankwaso threatened to dump the NDC over the alleged replacement of some candidates. The group described the claims as false and unfounded, insisting that neither Kwankwaso nor the movement had expressed any grievance regarding the development.

The movement’s spokesman, Habibu Sale Mohammed, said the party’s primaries were duly conducted on May 29 in line with the Electoral Act and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, adding that winners were affirmed on the same day.

He further explained that stakeholders had earlier adopted a consensus arrangement which guided the submission of candidates without internal crisis, stressing that Kwankwaso had not raised any complaint to the party or the movement regarding any substitutions. He dismissed reports of a planned defection as mere speculation and misinformation.