Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has warned party members contemplating defection to rival political platforms that betrayal of a political movement has never produced lasting success.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, issued the warning while addressing supporters at his residence, amid growing reports of possible defections by some key figures within the party.
His remarks come against the backdrop of intense political speculation in Kano State, including reports that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may be considering a move from the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
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In a video from the meeting that has since gone viral on social media, Kwankwaso said he was neither surprised nor unsettled by the alleged moves, noting that political history offers clear lessons for those who abandon the platforms that brought them to prominence.
“I want to remind those who left us that nobody has betrayed us and succeeded,” he said. “Political history is very clear on this matter. Those who believe they can rise by betraying the people and the movement they came from should think deeply.”
The NNPP leader stressed that the party’s strength does not depend on the loyalty of a few political office holders but on the enduring support of ordinary citizens who believe in the ideals of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
“I am not disturbed by these developments,” Kwankwaso added. “What truly matters is the support of the masses, not the movement of a few politicians who are pursuing personal interests.”
He pointed to the large turnout of supporters at the meeting as evidence that the NNPP continues to enjoy strong grassroots backing across Kano State, despite ongoing rumours of political realignments.
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“You can see with your own eyes the number of people who came here today,” he said. “This shows clearly that our movement is alive, strong, and firmly rooted among the people of Kano.”
Kwankwaso reaffirmed the party’s commitment to people-centred governance, social justice, and political inclusion, assuring supporters that no level of political manoeuvring or defection would derail the NNPP’s mission.
According to him, the Kwankwasiyya Movement remains bigger than any individual and will continue to serve as a platform for progressive politics in Kano State and beyond.
