The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has claimed that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is no longer a viable political force and suggested that its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is seeking a return to the APC.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, April 15, during the Tinubu Support Group (TSG) visit to the APC national secretariat, Ganduje dismissed the NNPP’s relevance in Nigeria’s political landscape.

“The NNPP is dead. And it will soon be buried very, very soon. The coffin has already been constructed. What remains now is to dig the grave. And already they are digging the grave very, very soon,” Ganduje said.

Ganduje, who succeeded Kwankwaso as governor of Kano State, suggested the APC is open to accepting his former political ally back into the fold.

“Even like that, the so-called NNPP national leader, he too, he says after losing everyone, he wants to come back to us. We will welcome him because he’s coming back home,” he added.

Kwankwaso quashes defection rumour

However, the NNPP has denied any plans for defection.

At a recent National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, Kwankwaso dismissed such claims, asserting that Ganduje might consider joining the NNPP instead.

NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary in Kano State, Ladipo Johnson, reiterated the party’s stance in a recent interview, stating, “While the party is open to discussions about possible alignments, there is nothing on the table yet.”

The war of words highlights the ongoing tension between the two Kano political giants as both parties jostle for influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Veteran journalist and politician Dele Momodu has sharply criticised governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for distancing themselves from the newly formed opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

According to Momodu, their refusal to join the alliance could indicate covert support for President Bola Tinubu‘s administration.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Monday, April 14, Momodu expressed frustration over the PDP Governors’ Forum’s decision, which was announced after a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Forum declared it would not join the coalition, which also includes former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Momodu warned that unity among opposition leaders is critical to challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) effectively in future elections.

“Atiku cannot do it alone, Peter Obi cannot do it alone, and Kwankwaso cannot do it alone,” Momodu said.

“They have to find a way to pay the APC back in its own coin… by getting a chunk of all the parties, including APC, to come together.”

Dele Momodu blasts PDP governors over coalition snub

He questioned the motives of PDP governors resisting the coalition, suggesting they may be indirectly aiding the Tinubu presidency.

“If our governors are saying, ‘Oh, we don’t go into coalitions,’ it means you are probably working for a Tinubu presidency,” he stated.

Referencing Nigeria’s political history, Momodu emphasised the importance of unity and resilience among opposition forces, recalling how Tinubu’s political base in Lagos survived federal pressure during the Obasanjo era.

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“A bully only respects a bully. But all of us are already behaving like chicken… people panic because of Tinubu, ‘Oh, they are going to use EFCC, they are going to arrest me,’” he said.

Momodu urged political actors to embrace collective action over fear.

“This thing is doable if they agree to work together,” he concluded, warning defectors that abandoning the opposition movement would be akin to jumping “into the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.”

Plans by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, to visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue State have reportedly been stalled by the state government, igniting fresh political tensions.

Obi, known for his post-election humanitarian outreach, was scheduled to continue his nationwide tour of crisis-hit communities with a visit to Benue’s IDP camps.

In recent weeks, the former Anambra State governor has visited displaced persons in Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and Nasarawa, offering relief materials and advocating for urgent government action.

According to sources close to the matter, Obi’s team had contacted the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) to formally notify them of the visit.

BSEMA’s Executive Secretary, Sir James Iorpuu, received the outreach, but it reportedly triggered political pushback from top government officials.

Insiders say Governor Hyacinth Alia was advised against granting Obi access. There are fears that the visit could reignite political rivalries, particularly with former Governor Samuel Ortom, a known supporter of Obi.

“Allowing Obi access at this time could fuel ongoing speculations that Governor Alia is considering leaving the APC,” a senior source revealed.

“The governor is very conscious of his relationship with the Presidency. This isn’t the kind of message he wants to send to the President.”

I can’t guarantee safety of unscheduled visitors – Gov Alia

Amid increasing tension within the APC at both state and national levels, sources claim Alia’s allies warned that hosting a high-profile opposition figure like Obi could be interpreted as political posturing — or worse, as aligning with rivals during a turbulent political period.

Adding to the speculation, the governor reportedly instructed his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, to issue a statement discouraging “unapproved high-profile visits” to the state.

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“For anyone considering a visit to Benue State without the Governor’s knowledge, it is imperative to reconsider such plans, as the safety and security of individuals in this regard cannot be guaranteed,” the statement read.

Though Obi was not mentioned by name, government insiders confirmed the statement was directed at him.

Another government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, added, “The camps are a sensitive issue. We cannot allow anyone to politicise the suffering of our displaced people.”

Obi’s supporters, however, argue that the visit was entirely humanitarian.

“This is part of his national outreach. There’s no political agenda,” a source close to Obi stated.

Obi’s influence in Benue remains notable. During the 2023 presidential election, he garnered over 308,000 votes in the state — a surprising result in a region traditionally dominated by the APC and PDP.

Many attribute this to a groundswell of youth and middle-class support and Ortom’s backing.

As of press time, neither Obi nor the Labour Party had issued an official response to the reported pushback.

However, the development has stirred debate on whether humanitarian efforts should be overshadowed by political considerations.