‘There’s Price for Betrayal’, Kwankwaso Tells Defected Senator’s Supporters

Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and its 2023 presidential candidate, has issued a stern warning to politicians who defected from the opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring they will soon face the consequences of their “betrayal.” Speaking at his Miller Road mansion in Kano during a solidarity visit by supporters of Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Kwankwaso reaffirmed the NNPP’s unwavering commitment to its principles amid Nigeria’s economic and political challenges.The visit, led by Sunusi Hukuma, a prominent supporter of Senator Sumaila, came in the wake of the senator’s high-profile defection from the NNPP to the APC, where he has pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s agenda in Kano. Hukuma, addressing a crowd of loyalists, distanced his group from Sumaila’s move, vowing to oppose the senator’s future political ambitions. “We supported him because he joined the Kwankwasiyya movement and won on its platform,” Hukuma said. “The moment he abandoned us, we withdrew our support.” In a symbolic gesture, Hukuma and his supporters swapped their caps for the red emblem of the Kwankwasiyya movement, reaffirming their allegiance to Kwankwaso’s vision. “We have been and will remain forever with Kwankwasiyya,” he declared.Kwankwaso, without directly naming Sumaila, praised the group for resisting “attempts to corrupt their minds” and staying true to the movement. He described Kwankwasiyya as “a movement for the people and for those who reason,” not a “money-making venture.” In a veiled jab at defectors, he accused some elected officials of betraying the poor who voted for them, lured by bribes. “Those who were voted for by the poor, who refused to be bribed themselves, have unfortunately dumped our party after being bribed,” Kwankwaso said. “I assure you, the time of judgment will soon come, and they will realize they made the wrong decision. There is a price for betrayal.”The event shows the deepening rift within Kano’s political landscape, where Sumaila’s defection has stirred tensions. Sumaila, who left the APC to join the NNPP before the 2023 elections and secured the Kano South senatorial seat, recently returned to the APC, citing alignment with Tinubu’s policies. His move mirrors a broader trend of defections to the ruling party, which controls 24 of Nigeria’s 36 states and is targeting further gains by 2027, according to recent statements from the Progressive Governors Forum.Hukuma’s group vowed to back Kwankwaso’s chosen candidate to replace Sumaila in future elections, signaling a fierce battle for Kano South’s political soul. “We will muscle energy against his ambitions,” Hukuma said, rallying the crowd. Kwankwaso, a former Kano governor and influential figure in northern politics, emphasized the movement’s focus on empowering the masses. “Under Kwankwasiyya, the poor have learned they don’t need money or gifts to vote,” he said, positioning the NNPP as a bulwark against political opportunism.

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