The political landscape of Nigeria is experiencing a dynamic shift, with Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring the imminent demise of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and hinting at the return of its leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the ruling party. Ganduje’s pronouncements, made during a courtesy visit by the Tinubu Support Group to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, signal a potential realignment of political forces within the country. His assertion that the NNPP is “dead” and will soon be “buried” underscores the perceived vulnerability of the opposition party and the APC’s confidence in its own growing strength. Ganduje’s further claim that Kwankwaso is seeking a return to the APC after losing support within his own party highlights the fluidity of political alliances and the potential for individual politicians to shift loyalties based on evolving political circumstances.
Ganduje’s confident declarations are buttressed by his assertion that the APC is attracting a growing number of prominent politicians and lawmakers from across Nigeria, solidifying its dominance on the political stage. This influx of new members, according to Ganduje, is a testament to the party’s appeal and its perceived ability to deliver on its promises. He portrays the APC as a magnet for political figures seeking to align themselves with a winning team, further emphasizing the party’s perceived strength and the waning influence of its rivals. This narrative of a growing and increasingly powerful APC serves to reinforce Ganduje’s claims about the NNPP’s decline and the potential return of Kwankwaso to the ruling party fold.
The backdrop to these developments is the ongoing power struggle within Nigeria’s political sphere. The APC, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is seeking to consolidate its hold on power, while opposition parties are attempting to forge alliances and present a united front. Ganduje’s pronouncements can be interpreted as a strategic move to undermine the opposition’s efforts and portray the APC as the inevitable center of power. By declaring the NNPP “dead” and predicting Kwankwaso’s return, Ganduje aims to create a perception of inevitability, suggesting that the APC is the only viable political force in the country.
Ganduje’s dismissal of opposition attempts to form a coalition against President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections further underscores the APC’s confidence in its own position. He predicts that such alliances will ultimately crumble, with key figures eventually returning to the APC. This prediction, coupled with his pronouncements about the NNPP’s demise, reflects a broader strategy to demoralize the opposition and project an image of the APC as an unstoppable force. Ganduje is essentially arguing that any attempt to challenge the APC’s dominance is futile, and that the ruling party’s position is secure.
The potential implications of Kwankwaso’s return to the APC, if it were to materialize, are significant. Kwankwaso is a prominent political figure with a considerable following, particularly in Kano State. His return to the APC could further strengthen the ruling party’s grip on power and weaken the already fragmented opposition. It could also trigger a realignment of political forces within Kano State, a key political battleground in Nigeria. However, it remains to be seen whether Kwankwaso will indeed rejoin the APC and what impact such a move would have on the broader political landscape.
In conclusion, Ganduje’s declarations about the NNPP’s demise and Kwankwaso’s potential return to the APC represent a significant development in Nigerian politics. These pronouncements reflect the ongoing power struggle between the ruling party and the opposition, and highlight the fluid nature of political alliances in the country. While the ultimate outcome of these developments remains uncertain, they underscore the APC’s confidence in its own position and its determination to maintain its grip on power. The coming months and years will reveal whether Ganduje’s predictions prove accurate and what impact they have on the future of Nigerian politics.
