Eshioromeh Sebastian
Former Kano State Governor and ex-Minister of Defence, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has clarified that he has not declared any intention to run for president in the 2027 general election, walking back on widespread speculation while citing the precarious legal situation of his party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a lengthy personal statement issued on Sunday night, Kwankwaso described recent media reports suggesting a possible realignment within the ADC as “misleading narratives,” insisting that no final decision has been taken regarding his political future or that of his associates.
The former presidential aspirant pointed to multiple court cases, including a recent Supreme Court judgment and a Federal High Court ruling, as reasons for caution.
“The recent Supreme Court judgment, while affirming the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC), also remitted the matter back to the High Court. This has left the party in a precarious position,” Kwankwaso said.He added: “In addition, the Federal High Court has recently ruled to delegitimise the party’s recent convention.
The Attorney General of the Federation has also strangely applied to a Federal High Court to deregister the ADC.”Kwankwaso, who left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) due to what he described as “externally influenced legal problems,” expressed frustration that the ADC had now been forced into similar difficulties.
“We left the NNPP due to externally influenced legal problems that made our stay perilous.
The ADC has now been also forced into this difficulty,” he stated.Consequently, the former Defence Minister revealed that he and other major stakeholders have commenced wide-ranging consultations with leaders from other political parties, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).
“We have commenced wide-ranging consultations — including with leaders from the NDC, PRP and others to explore the best options for protecting our democratic interests.
We shall announce our decision in the soonest possible time,” Kwankwaso said.On the presidential question specifically, the former governor was emphatic that no declaration has been made.
“The ADC is yet to zone its presidential ticket or take any decision on a candidate. I have therefore neither declared any intention to run for president nor endorsed any aspirant.
All speculations to the contrary are premature and unfounded,” he clarified.Kwankwaso took the opportunity to recall his record as a loyal party man, noting that he came second to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2014 APC presidential primary, with Atiku Abubakar placing third.
He also recalled contesting the PDP presidential ticket in 2019 and subsequently serving as Atiku Abubakar’s campaign coordinator in the North.“I have always placed national interest and party unity above personal ambition,” he said.
Addressing his absence from two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings, Kwankwaso explained: “My absence from the two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings was due to unavoidable personal commitments.
I promptly communicated my apologies to the party leadership.”He concluded by assuring that any definitive position on his political direction would be communicated formally through official channels.
“We shall continue to engage constructively at all levels. Any definitive position on our political direction will be communicated formally through official channels at the appropriate time,” Kwankwaso said.
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