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I am not for sale. What keeps me grounded is our political conviction.
If this struggle were about personal benefit, I would have taken the easy route long ago, and you would be looking for me somewhere else, not here.” he said.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has moved to reassert his political identity and long-held convictions amid renewed uncertainty within the party, declaring that he would not trade his principles for political advantage or personal gain.
Speaking to supporters at his residence in Kano on Friday, shortly after reports emerged of the resignation of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and several party officials from the NNPP, Kwankwaso framed his political journey as one defined by ideological commitment rather than transactional politics.
His remarks were widely interpreted as a response to the growing internal fractures within the party and speculation over possible realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and one of the most recognisable political figures in northern Nigeria, said his decades-long engagement in politics had been driven by a singular objective: the emancipation of ordinary Nigerians from poverty, exclusion and elite capture of the state.
His statement comes at a sensitive moment for the NNPP, which rose to national prominence during the 2023 elections largely on the back of Kwankwaso’s influence in Kano and parts of the North-West. Governor Yusuf’s emergence under the party’s banner was widely seen as an extension of the Kwankwasiyya political structure, a movement that has cultivated a strong grassroots following built around populist messaging, social welfare programmes and a distinctive political identity.
Recent defections by key political actors in Kano, including local government chairmen, federal lawmakers and aides to the governor, have raised questions about the cohesion of the party in its strongest state and the durability of its political machinery.
While the full implications of these resignations remain unclear, the developments have fuelled debate about whether the NNPP can maintain its relevance outside the personality and organisational influence of its founder.
Kwankwaso sought to address these concerns by emphasising that the Kwankwasiyya Movement was not sustained by financial inducements or patronage but by a shared vision and sense of purpose among its supporters.
Beyond defending his personal stance, the former presidential candidate also used the occasion to send a clear signal about the road to 2027. He urged his supporters to begin early mobilisation, warning that political complacency could undo years of organisational effort and grassroots engagement.
According to him, recent political manoeuvres in Kano and beyond suggest that entrenched interests are already positioning themselves to weaken alternative political movements that challenge the status quo.
Looking at what is happening in Kano today, preparation cannot wait,” Kwankwaso said. “There are people who are determined to destroy what we have built over time. We must be alert, organised and ready.”
His comments underline a broader strategic calculation: while Kwankwaso did not explicitly declare any intention regarding the 2027 elections, his emphasis on early mobilisation, sacrifice and vigilance points to a continued desire to remain politically relevant and to protect the ideological space his movement occupies.
In reaffirming his political mission, Kwankwaso drew a sharp line between his brand of politics and what he described as elite exploitation of the masses. He insisted that compromise with forces he believes undermine the welfare of ordinary Nigerians was not an option.
“My mission has always been to fight for the common people,” he said. “I will not compromise with those who exploit the masses for their own benefit.”
For observers, the speech reflects both a defensive and forward-looking posture. On one hand, it seeks to reassure loyalists shaken by defections and internal disputes. On the other, it positions Kwankwaso as a principled actor in an increasingly fluid political landscape where alliances are often shaped by expediency rather than ideology.
As Nigeria edges closer to another election cycle, the challenge for Kwankwaso and the NNPP will be translating moral authority and grassroots loyalty into a cohesive political structure capable of withstanding internal pressure and external competition.
Whether the Kwankwasiyya Movement can retain its momentum in the face of current tensions may ultimately determine its role in the country’s evolving political equation.
SB E-news.
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