Olusegun Ariyo
Leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has strongly condemned politicians who defect to rival parties after benefiting from the support of the electorate, describing such acts as the “greatest political sin” in a democratic system.
Kwankwaso made the remarks on Friday in Kano while receiving a wave of defectors from Takai Local Government Area of Kano South into the NNPP at his residence along Miller Road. The development comes on the heels of a string of high-profile defections from the NNPP to the All-Progressives Congress (APC), including Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila and Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, member representing Rano, Kibiya and Bunkure federal constituency.
Reflecting on previous elections, Kwankwaso said each political contest had served as a learning curve for the movement. He particularly emphasised the lessons learned during the 2019 and 2023 general elections, asserting that the group had grown wiser and more resilient.
The NNPP chieftain further described the Kwankwasiyya ideology as a people-oriented movement, driven not by monetary inducements but by a passion for uplifting the common man.
“This movement is for the people. It is not about money. Some people collected spaghetti and N2,000 to elect someone. But in Kano, the poor stood firm. If it had been left to those selling their votes, the NNPP wouldn’t have won,” he stated.
Kwankwaso criticised defectors who, after winning elections through popular support, switched allegiance to political rivals. He said such actions represent the height of political betrayal.
“This is the highest form of betrayal in a democratic setting. When vulnerable people vote for you and you turn around to join their oppressors, it is a political sin of the highest order,” he said.
The former Minister of Defence warned that any politician who undermines the Kwankwasiyya movement does so at their peril, describing the group as a “solid wall” that cannot be easily shaken.
“Fighting the Kwankwasiyya movement is a grave mistake. One may not understand until he engages in that fight—and then he’ll realise how tough it is,” he said.
Kwankwaso urged his supporters to remain steadfast and continue mobilising grassroots support across communities. He reaffirmed the unity of the movement and its commitment to promoting social justice and the welfare of the underprivileged.
“Whether you got an appointment or not, whether you got a contract or not, we are all in this for the right reasons. The poor now understand everything, and that is our strength,” he added.
He congratulated the new members for joining the NNPP and expressed optimism that the party would continue to expand its influence.
