Former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has stated that no final decision has been made on his political future or that of his associates.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, however, admitted that he is currently consulting with leaders of the National Democratic Congress and the Peoples Redemption Party.
Kwankwaso disclosed this in a statement shared on his X account on Saturday.
He wrote, “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.”
He noted that the recent Supreme Court decision upheld the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee but returned certain aspects of the case to the high court, putting the party in a difficult position.
“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,” he said.
The party’s recent convention was invalidated by the Federal High Court, and the Attorney General of the Federation requested that the ADC be deregistered.
According to Kwankwaso, these challenges are similar to those that forced him and his supporters to leave the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
“In addition, the Federal High Court has recently ruled to delegitimize 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 also been forced into this difficulty,” he added.
He revealed that consultations had begun with leaders of the National Democratic Congress, Peoples Redemption Party, and others to determine the best path forward.
“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,” he added.
In the 2027 presidential race, Kwankwaso stated that he had neither indicated an interest in running nor endorsed any candidate.
He recounted finishing second in the 2014 APC presidential primaries, which Muhammadu Buhari won, and thereafter endorsing the winner. He also said that he ran in the 2019 PDP presidential primaries before supporting Atiku Abubakar.
He said, “On the issue of presidential candidacy, 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.”
Kwankwaso said that the ADC had yet to zone its presidential ticket or select a candidate, rendering current conjecture false.
He also stated that his absence from two recent ADC stakeholder meetings was due to unavoidable personal commitments, which he had informed party leaders about.
“Furthermore, the ADC is yet to zone its presidential ticket or decide 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,” he said.
