The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has firmly declared that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, its 2023 presidential candidate, will not be permitted to contest the party's presidential ticket in the 2027 general elections. This position was articulated by the party's National Secretary, Mr. Ogini Olaposi, in a statement issued on Sunday, January 11, 2026, in Lagos.
Olaposi emphasized that the NNPP's 2027 presidential ticket—and indeed all elective positions—would be open exclusively to bona fide members of the party who express interest through the established internal processes. He contrasted this with the 2023 arrangement, where the ticket was effectively allocated solely to Kwankwaso following a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with his Kwankwasiyya Movement.
According to Olaposi, the MoU between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, signed in 2022, was time-bound and expired immediately after the 2023 general elections. Post-election developments, particularly what he described as anti-party activities by certain members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, led to the expulsion of several high-profile figures, including Kwankwaso himself, Elder Buba Galadima, and others. These expulsions, he stated, have not been reversed, and the affected individuals remain outside the party's fold.
“The NNPP ticket for 2027 is open to all members, unlike in 2023 when it was solely given to Kwankwaso,” Olaposi asserted. He further clarified that Kwankwaso and his group “remain expelled and cannot negotiate for the NNPP,” adding that any future alliances or collaborations would be determined solely by the party's National Working Committee (NWC).
This development comes amid escalating political realignments in Nigeria as various figures and groups position themselves for the 2027 polls. Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Kano State and influential northern politician, has recently signaled openness to defecting to another party—but only if offered the presidential or vice-presidential ticket. In a public address in Kano last Saturday (January 4, 2026), he dismissed rumors of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf's planned defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as betrayal, while reiterating his conditions for any alliance. The NNPP's statement appears partly in response to these comments, dismissing them as unrealistic given Kwankwaso's current status.
The rift between the NNPP's formal leadership and the Kwankwasiyya Movement has deepened over the past year. In late 2025, the party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard congresses purportedly organized by Kwankwaso-led groups, describing them as unconstitutional and in violation of court orders. Expulsions of Kwankwaso allies, including the Kano State Chairman Hon. Hashim Dungurawa in December 2025, further highlighted the internal fractures. Meanwhile, reports of defections from NNPP ranks, including state lawmakers and local executives, have added to the instability, with some aligning toward the APC amid speculation of broader realignments in Kano.
Despite these tensions, Olaposi downplayed Kwankwaso's lingering influence, particularly in Kano State, describing it as “overrated” and no longer capable of significantly impacting electoral outcomes, such as votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. This assertion contrasts sharply with Kwankwaso's historical dominance in Kano politics, where his Kwankwasiyya Movement mobilized substantial support in 2023, helping secure Yusuf's governorship under the NNPP banner.
The NNPP's stance reflects a broader effort to assert institutional control and rebuild the party on its own terms, independent of the Kwankwasiyya Movement's influence. Founded as a platform for progressive politics, the NNPP gained national visibility in 2023 largely due to Kwankwaso's candidacy, which garnered over 1.5 million votes and strong showings in the North. However, post-election disputes over party control, congresses, and defections have fragmented its structure.
Political analysts view this development as a potential turning point for Kwankwaso's future ambitions. With his expulsion unrevoked and the NNPP ticket off-limits, the former senator may need to explore other platforms—such as the emerging African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition or even a return to the APC—while adhering to his stated conditions for any move. Meanwhile, the NNPP signals readiness to conduct open primaries, positioning itself as a merit-based alternative in Nigeria's crowded opposition space.
As the countdown to 2027 intensifies, the statement underscores the fluid and often contentious nature of Nigerian party politics, where personal movements, expired alliances, and legal battles frequently reshape the landscape. Whether this rift leads to further defections or a complete realignment remains to be seen, but it clearly marks the end of the 2023 Kwankwaso-NNPP partnership.
