After all speculations, Kwankwaso finally speaks on defection

Former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has delivered a fiery condemnation of politicians who defect to rival parties after winning elections with the people’s mandate. He described such actions as “the greatest political sin” in any democratic system.

Kwankwaso made the remarks on Friday at his Miller Road residence in Kano while receiving dozens of defectors from Takai Local Government Area into the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

“This is the highest form of betrayal in a democracy,” Kwankwaso said. “There is no greater political sin than for the vulnerable masses to vote for you—rejecting deceivers and enemies of progress—only for you to turn around and join those same enemies after winning. If the people had known your true intentions, they would never have voted for you.”

The former NNPP presidential candidate’s comments follow a series of high-profile defections from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC), signaling shifting political allegiances ahead of the next round of elections.

Though he refrained from naming specific individuals, Kwankwaso’s message was unmistakably aimed at recent defectors who, he argued, had abused the trust of the very electorate that brought them into office.

Reflecting on the strength of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Kwankwaso recalled its ability to weather political turbulence, particularly in 2015, when he said infiltrators attempted to destabilize the group from within.

“But thank God, the movement did not derail,” he said, adding that the Kwankwasiyya structure remains a powerful grassroots force. “Fighting the Kwankwasiyya movement is a grave mistake. One may not understand until he engages in that fight—and then realizes just how tough it is to battle a solid wall.”

He urged members to remain loyal and committed to the cause, regardless of access to political power or appointments.

“Whether or not you hold office or receive contracts, we are all united by a common mission. The poor now understand the game, and that awareness is what has brought us this far,” he said. “Go back to your communities and bring more people into this struggle.”

Kwankwaso congratulated the new members for joining what he called “a movement built for the people,” assuring them of greater opportunities, political participation, and representation.