Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has extended an invitation to Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano and presidential candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), to rejoin the APC. Ganduje made these remarks while speaking with journalists at the APC national headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, emphasizing the party’s commitment to deepening democracy in the country.

Ganduje likened Kwankwaso to “a fish out of water,” suggesting that the APC would provide a welcoming and supportive environment for his return. He stated, “The APC is deepening and widening democracy in the country. Kwankwaso is a fish out of water, trying to find its way back into the waters. We cannot say we can’t accommodate him, because a friend in need is a friend indeed. We don’t want to leave him completely abandoned. We can still have him in if he wants to join us.”

Ganduje further elaborated on the moral grounds for accommodating Kwankwaso, saying, “When you see your son running to where he would get shelter and you are a big brother in a big home, I think it is morally right to accommodate him. So, we cannot say we cannot accommodate him.”

Kwankwaso had previously left the APC in August 2018, citing internal conflicts and disagreements over the party’s direction. Recently, there have been defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, including Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta state. Additionally, Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano, has indicated that the NNPP in the state would follow Kwankwaso’s lead.

Ganduje’s invitation follows speculation and sightings of Kwankwaso with APC figures, such as Senate Deputy President Barau Jibrin and former Senate President Pius Anyim, at Abuja Airport. An aide described the encounter as a sign of unity and mutual respect, fueling rumors of a potential political realignment. These developments coincided with alleged meetings between Kwankwaso and President Tinubu and reports of Kwankwaso’s potential defection from the NNPP to the APC.

In a related statement, Ganduje also commented on the state of the NNPP, suggesting it is declining and that Kwankwaso is seeking political redemption in the APC, which he framed as a “homecoming.”