Kwankwaso’s Sky-High Demands Shatter Deal With Tinubu, APC

The planned political alliance between President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the 2023 New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, reportedly collapsed due to what sources described as excessive and unrealistic demands by Kwankwaso.

According to Ireporter Online, Kwankwaso was approached to join the APC in recognition of the electoral influence of his red-cap movement, Kwankwasiyya, and the NNPP’s performance during the 2023 general election. APC officials indicated that the presidency viewed the former Kano governor as a strategic bridge into Kano and parts of the North-west. President Tinubu is said to have held multiple meetings with him in Abuja.

Sources told Ireporter Online that negotiations broke down after Kwankwaso requested control over as much as 20 per cent of the APC’s national structure, alongside a vice-presidential slot and long-term political guarantees extending to 2031. Senior APC figures noted that these demands immediately raised concerns, particularly as the party began early preparations for the 2027 elections, with the demand for a structural stake in the party cited as a key stumbling block.

A source familiar with the discussions said, “Even President Bola Tinubu has not requested a percentage share of the APC. The demand for 20 per cent of the national structure was a deal breaker. Additionally, the vice-presidential position was never available, and discussions about 2031 were premature.”

Another top APC official described Kwankwaso’s requests as an overreach, highlighting that he was seeking influence not only for immediate accommodation but also for the party’s long-term succession planning.

According to Ireporter Online, when negotiations with Kwankwaso reached an impasse, the presidency shifted focus to strengthening ties with Kano Governor Abba Yusuf. Sources explained that the president and APC strategists believed leveraging incumbency, federal influence, and direct engagement with the governor would be more effective than attempting to court Kwankwaso further.

A party insider added, “Once it became clear that Kwankwaso no longer commanded the entire Kano political space, especially amid divisions with his former political allies, it made more sense to engage the governor directly.”