Kano APC Opens Door to Kwankwaso’s Return, Demands Apology for Past Attacks
KANO, Nigeria—The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warmly welcomed speculations of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s potential defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), but insists he must publicly apologize for derogatory remarks against President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, per a press briefing by Chairman Abdullahi Abbas on April 18, 2025. The announcement, sparking #KwankwasoAPC at 100,000 X posts, reignites political tensions in Kano amid Nigeria’s economic woes—naira at N1,645/$1 and 40% inflation—as of April 18, 2025.
A Conditional Welcome: Apology First
Abbas, speaking at the APC secretariat in Kano, described Kwankwaso’s speculated return as a “welcome development,” noting the party’s openness to defectors under its Renewed Hope Agenda. “APC remains his last political refuge, as he has destroyed relations with other political groupings,” Abbas said, referencing Kwankwaso’s fallout with NNPP factions, per The PUNCH. However, he demanded a public apology for Kwankwaso’s past criticisms, including 2024 claims that Tinubu’s administration fueled Boko Haram in Kano, per Daily Trust. #SackKwankwaso posts (60,000) reflect APC’s firm stance, with @dawisu tweeting, “No apology, no entry!”
Kwankwaso’s Political Odyssey: A Refuge in APC?
Kwankwaso, a former Kano governor and 2023 NNPP presidential candidate, has a history of party-switching, leaving APC for PDP in 2018 and NNPP in 2022, per Tribune Online. His speculated return follows NNPP’s internal crisis, with his faction expelled, per Naija News. Abbas emphasized that defectors must register at ward levels, ensuring no special privileges, per THEWILL. Critics like ex-Commissioner Ilyasu Musa Kwankwaso warn of disunity, alleging Kwankwaso seeks to secure Governor Abba Yusuf’s 2027 re-election, per Tribune Online. #KanoPolitics posts (80,000) debate his motives, with @starnewsngr noting, “Is this a homecoming or a takeover?”
Nigeria’s Broader Context: Economic and Security Strains
The defection buzz unfolds as Nigeria grapples with a naira crash to N1,645/$1, forex reserves at $38 billion, and rice at ₦100,000 per bag, per NBS and Bloomberg. Insecurity—25 killed in Zamfara, cholera’s 10 deaths in Ogun, per Reuters and NCDC—heightens political stakes in Kano, a key northern state. #FixNigeria posts (150,000) link the drama to governance failures, while #KanoAPC posts (50,000) see Kwankwaso’s move as strategic. Analyst Dr. Tunde Lawal said, “Kwankwaso’s return could reshape Kano’s 2027 polls, but APC risks internal rifts.” Rema’s HEIS streaming record offers a cultural distraction, per BellaNaija.
Mixed Reactions: Opportunity or Risk?
APC supporters like @ImamShams praise the party’s conditions, viewing Kwankwaso’s return as a boost to reclaim Kano from NNPP, per X. However, #NoKwankwaso posts (40,000) fear his Kwankwasiyya movement’s influence, recalling his 2023 election sway, per The PUNCH. Opposition voices, like @dailynews24_NG, cite APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje’s “homecoming” remark, hinting at reconciliation, per X. Lawal noted, “An apology may be a small price for Kwankwaso’s political survival.” #NigeriaDecides posts (90,000) question if his return strengthens or fractures APC.
A Political Gamble: Unity or Chaos?
The APC’s conditions signal a cautious embrace, with Abbas stressing fairness for all members, per SolaceBase. Kwankwaso’s silence on the apology demand, per National Accord, leaves his next move unclear. With Kano’s 5.9 million voters critical to 2027, per INEC, his defection could shift northern dynamics. Will Kwankwaso apologize to join APC, or double down on NNPP? As Nigeria navigates IMF’s $2 billion loan and Lagos Fashion Week’s buzz, per Reuters and Arise News, Kano’s political chessboard awaits its next play.
