EXCLUSIVE: Ahead of 2027 Elections, Tinubu And Kwankwaso Engage In Crucial Meeting
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to hold a crucial meeting with the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The anticipated engagement comes barely a day after President Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Governor Yusuf is a long-time political protégé of Kwankwaso.
Sources familiar with the development told Politics Digest that Governor Yusuf played a key role in facilitating the planned meeting between the President and the former Kano governor. According to the sources, the move followed President Tinubu’s desire to harmonise key political interests across party lines as part of broader consultations ahead of 2027.
Until recently, Senator Kwankwaso had openly resisted any alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and was reported to have cautioned Governor Yusuf against defecting from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). However, his position appears to have softened in recent weeks.
Speaking to journalists recently, Kwankwaso, who was the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, hinted at a possible political shift, stating that he would consider joining the ruling party if presented with what he described as a “satisfactory offer.”
A senior APC leader from the North-West confirmed that the meeting between President Tinubu and Senator Kwankwaso has been tentatively scheduled for later today (Tuesday), subject to last-minute changes in the President’s itinerary.
“The President is keen on broadening his political base,” the APC chieftain said. “The meeting is expected this evening, and discussions will likely focus on national stability, political cooperation, and future political alignment ahead of 2027.”
The series of high-level engagements has fuelled speculation about the future of the NNPP and the direction of the Kwankwasiyya political structure. While Governor Yusuf’s camp is reportedly upbeat following his meeting with President Tinubu, it remains unclear whether both Kwankwaso and Yusuf are considering a coordinated exit from the NNPP or pursuing separate political paths.
Political analysts say any realignment of the Kwankwasiyya movement with the APC would represent a major shake-up in Northern Nigerian politics. Such a development could also weaken the proposed “Third Force” coalition reportedly being explored by opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, in which Kwankwaso is believed to play a central role.
For President Tinubu, securing the cooperation of both a sitting Kano governor and the undisputed leader of one of the state’s most influential political movements would significantly strengthen the APC’s position in Kano State, widely regarded as a critical battleground in national elections.
Governor Yusuf’s visit to the Presidential Villa followed President Tinubu’s return from the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the United Arab Emirates.
Sources familiar with the negotiations disclosed that a possible defection, initially expected in early January, has been repeatedly delayed. According to a report by The PUNCH, the APC leadership has resisted Governor Yusuf’s demand for a written assurance of an automatic governorship ticket for the 2027 election.
Governor Yusuf is also said to be pushing for the right to nominate a minister to represent Kano State in the Federal Executive Council, as well as the authority to replace Kano-based federal appointees with his loyalists.
These demands have reportedly created tension with influential APC figures, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who is widely believed to harbour governorship ambitions for 2027.
