The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the defection of former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as overhyped and motivated by personal ambition rather than national interest.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Hon. Seye Oladejo, the party questioned attempts to portray the move as a major political shift, arguing that a closer look shows otherwise.
The APC claimed Kwankwaso’s defection is linked to his long-standing pursuit of a presidential or vice-presidential ticket, framing it as a strategic effort to advance personal political goals rather than ideological alignment or governance.
The statement also highlighted the weakening of the Kwankwasiyya movement due to the departure of key stakeholders, including prominent Kano State leaders, saying the former governor’s influence has been exaggerated.
Lagos APC emphasized that true political relevance is measured by the ability to maintain alliances, build trust, and deliver results.
The statement reads: “While some are eager to portray this move as a seismic political realignment, a closer examination reveals a narrative driven more by ego than by principle.
“Senator Kwankwaso has long publicly declared that any defection on his part must guarantee him a Presidential or Vice Presidential ticket.
“This defection, therefore, is less a genuine commitment to national interest or ideological alignment, and more a calculated exercise in self-aggrandizement. It is a political transaction designed to satisfy personal ambition, not to advance meaningful governance or serve the Nigerian people.
“Moreover, the vaunted Kwankwasiyya movement, often presented as a formidable grassroots force, has long been in tatters. Its abandonment by key stakeholders, including the Kano State Governor and other prominent leaders, laid bare its internal weakness and declining relevance.
“A leader whose so-called movement cannot retain its core supporters is hardly the national game-changer some would have Nigerians believe.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that Senator Kwankwaso’s political influence has been overstated. What is being sold as a strategic realignment is, in reality, an ego-driven, opportunistic maneuver.
“It is a reminder that political prominence is not measured by name recognition or past office, but by the ability to sustain alliances, inspire trust, and deliver results.”