A high-profile defection from Nigeria’s political scene has rattled parts of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with one senior party figure warning that recent shifts could seriously weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Alwan Hassan, a chieftain of the APC, said in a recent television interview and multiple public statements that the party is “in big trouble” after Kwankwaso’s defection from his former party to the ADC, and that his political influence makes him a formidable opponent.
Kwankwaso — a veteran politician and the former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) — formally registered as a member of the ADC late last month, a move widely seen by analysts as part of a broader opposition strategy to consolidate forces against the APC.
“Losing Kwankwaso is not something the APC should take lightly,” Hassan said, describing the former Kano governor as someone with deep grassroots support — especially in northern states like Kano where his Kwankwasiyya movement remains influential. According to Hassan, Kwankwaso’s ability to mobilise voters and align political figures behind the ADC threatens the APC’s hold on key regions.
In blunt terms, Hassan reportedly described his influence as being so strong that, “if we lose Kano to Kwankwaso, we are in trouble.” The comment reflects anxieties among some APC leaders about political realignments in Nigeria’s northwest and other strategic zones.
This development follows a string of defections and alignments ahead of the 2027 elections. Former APC governorship candidate Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, for example, recently resigned from a federal board appointment and is expected to formally join the ADC as part of the evolving coalition.
Political analysts say these realignments have stirred genuine concern within the ruling party, as the ADC has attracted multiple opposition figures alongside Kwankwaso, including those who defected from other major parties. Observers view the coalition’s expansion as a potential challenge to the APC’s dominance, especially if it can translate political clout into votes.
Despite this warning, the APC has responded publicly by dismissing internal defections as isolated and urging rival parties like the ADC to resolve their own organisational issues rather than blaming the ruling party for political setbacks. APC national spokespeople have emphasised that legal disputes and internal crises, rather than external pressure, are the main constraints facing opposition groups.
As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 electoral cycle, developments like Kwankwaso’s shift to the ADC and comments from party insiders underscore the high-stakes political jockeying underway — with both the ruling party and opposition forces positioning themselves for competitive advantage across the nation
