Vice presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has dismissed claims that he planned to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying his discussions with President Bola Tinubu were never about joining the ruling party.
Kwankwaso said although Tinubu made efforts for them to work together after the 2023 general election, the discussions were aimed at exploring ways to move the country forward and not at persuading him to leave the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for the APC.
He made the clarification while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.
He noted that he and Tinubu have maintained a longstanding political relationship dating back to their days as members of the National Assembly in 1992–1993, their tenure as governors beginning in 1999, and their collaboration during the formation of the APC.
According to Kwankwaso, Tinubu made efforts for them to collaborate, but the arrangement did not involve him abandoning the NNPP for the APC.
He said: “I don’t think there was any plan for me to join the APC. I know from the beginning of the administration, the President, being a good friend of mine, of course, a former colleague, my colleague many times in the National Assembly in 1992–93, and of course when we were governors in 1999, and even when we were forming the APC itself, we worked together hand in hand over the last three decades and a half, so we know ourselves.
“Of course, he made efforts for us to work together, but it was not to leave my party then, the NNPP, to join the APC, but to work together to make this country a better place for everybody.
“But for whatever reason, it didn’t work out. That arrangement didn’t work out.
“Well, there were many proposals at that particular time, but I think that is history. Now I am in the NDC. He is now in the APC, and all our names have been uploaded.
“Our names are with INEC now, so we are just waiting for the time for campaigns, and we will see how things move.”