According to Daily Post reporting on February 1st, 2026, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has officially debunked viral reports claiming that its national leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is in talks to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party described the rumors as “mischievous fabrications” intended to create disharmony among opposition forces ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Reporting by Leadership News confirms that the NNPP leadership held an emergency meeting in Abuja to address the speculation. The party’s spokesperson clarified that Kwankwaso has not met with President Tinubu for political negotiations since 2024. “Our leader remains committed to the NNPP’s ideology and is focused on building a formidable alternative for Nigerians,” the spokesperson said in a direct quote.
In an update published by The Nation, it was suggested that the rumors were fueled by recent defections of other high-profile opposition members to the APC. However, the paper quoted an NNPP chieftain who insisted: “Kwankwaso is a man of principle; he will not be intimidated or lured into a party that he has consistently criticized for its economic policies.”
Echotitbits take: This denial is a classic move in the Nigerian political “chess game.” While the NNPP is currently holding its ground, the ongoing realignment of governors—including the rumored exit of Abba Yusuf—suggests that Kwankwaso may soon find himself politically isolated if he doesn’t secure a new alliance.
Source: The Punch — https://punchng.com/kwankwaso-never-discussed-defection-with-apc-nnpp/, February 1, 2026
Photo credit: The Punch
