APC Chieftain Reveals Kwankwaso’s “Strange” Conditions To Tinubu For Him To Join APC

Former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso reportedly made unrealistic demands to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu as condition for him to join the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and support president Tinubu’s reelection.

According to a report by THISDAY newspaper, the negotiation between the presidency and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso brokendown due to the later’s “unrealistic” conditions which the president considered impossible.

An unnamed source cited by THISDAY newspaper and described as a top official of the ruling party, claimed that president Tinubu was determined to persuading Kwankwaso to join his political party but Kwankwaso’s demands amounted to the negotiation breaking down.

The source claimed that Kwankwaso among other conditions listed, demanded twenty percent of the APC political structure across states of the federation including the his home state, Kano state where he will have complete controll over the Kano state APC.

Additionally, Kwankwaso requested that he must be guaranteed a future in the party beyond the 2027 general elections, particularly 2031 in view of the presidential seat returning to the north at the end of president Tinubu’s second term in 2031. By implication, Kwankwaso requested that he must be given guarantees that he will become president Tinubu’s successor in 2031.

The former governor of Kano state also in the allege conditions given to president Tinubu, requested that he replace vice president Kashim Shettima as president Tinubu’s running mate in 2027 necessary for him to be better positioned to emerge the party’s presidential candidate in 2031.

The source explained that president Bola Ahmed Tinubu never contemplated that Kwankwaso would among other things, request to replace Kashim Shettima; hence, did not consider the request as politically right or giving him any leverage amid the pressure  from the US that he replaces his current Muslim Vice President with a christian.

“Even President Bola Tinubu has not specifically asked for any percentage share of the APC. That demand for 20 per cent of the structure of the APC nationwide was a deal breaker. Besides, the vice-presidential position was never on the table”, the source stated

“It was made clear to him that it was not vacant, and there was no basis for discussions around 2031 at this stage,” the impeccable source who was familiar with the negotiations”.