Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election continues to witness major shifts as the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, officially received a new group of defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the NDC and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Among those who joined the movement was Danlami Zakari Unguwar Gertai, popularly known as Garkuwan Gari, from Gari Local Government Area of Kano State. He arrived alongside a large number of supporters during a reception held at Kwankwaso’s residence on Miller Road in Kano.
The latest political development was confirmed by the Kwankwasiyya Movement through a social media update on Sunday, describing the defection as another boost for the party’s growing support base ahead of the next general election.
According to the movement, the new members publicly pledged their loyalty and commitment to the ideals of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, promising to work toward what they described as a better future for the country.
The defection comes just days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the credentials and personal details of the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.
Obi and Kwankwaso were both presidential candidates during the 2023 general election under different political parties before later aligning with the APC. However, both politicians eventually exited the ruling party, citing prolonged internal disagreements and legal disputes before joining forces under the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
Political observers believe the steady influx of supporters into the NDC, particularly in Kano State, could reshape political calculations in the North as campaigns for the 2027 elections gradually gather momentum.
