The political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections is getting increasingly tangled, and a fresh bombshell from Kano State has set the rumor mill ablaze.

Sanusi Bature, the spokesperson for Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, has dropped a massive political claim: Rabiu Kwankwaso, the heavyweight chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), is secretly working behind the scenes to secure President Bola Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.

Featuring on Arise Television’s The Morning Show, Bature pulled back the curtain on what he describes as "political confusion" and hidden calculations within the opposition camp.

The Secret Pact: "He Worked for Tinubu in 2023"

According to Bature, Kwankwaso's backroom alignment with the presidency isn't entirely new. He alleged that despite running as a frontline presidential candidate under the NNPP in 2023, Kwankwaso's actions ultimately benefited Tinubu's path to the villa—a script he claims is being dusted off for 2027.

"What I want to make clear here is that there are those working for Tinubu openly, directly in the public space, and there are those who can work for Tinubu behind the scenes. And I believe whatever Kwankwaso is doing will favour Tinubu at the end of the day because Kwankwaso has worked for Tinubu in 2023." — Sanusi Bature, Spokesperson to Kano Gov

Shifting Alliances: From Makinde to Peter Obi

Bature did not hold back in criticizing Kwankwaso's recent political maneuvers, painting a picture of a leader floating between different factions to protect his relevance.

The Alleged Timeline of Political Shopping:

  • The Southwest Moves: Bature claimed Kwankwaso traveled across Abeokuta and Ibadan, engaging former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

  • The Makinde Rejection: When talks of a partnership with Seyi Makinde allegedly fell through, Kwankwaso pivoted elsewhere.

  • The Obi Alliance: Kwankwaso ultimately settled on an alliance with Peter Obi—the same political figure Bature notes Kwankwaso had publicly dismissed as an "inferior political leader" during the 2023 cycle.

The Botched APC Defection Plan

Perhaps the most explosive revelation was Bature’s account of a near-defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bature claimed that Kwankwaso had originally ordered his political godson, Governor Abba Yusuf, to meet with President Tinubu to negotiate a formal partnership and prepare the ground for them to defect to the APC. However, Kwankwaso allegedly pulled the plug at the very last second, choosing instead to move into the newly formed NDC.

A View From the Inside

Bature emphasized that his perspective comes from years of navigating the highly volatile Kano political ecosystem.

"I’m a member of the APC and have been a member of the opposition in Kano, and I know what happened in 2023," Bature stated. "I believe that Kwankwaso is working for Tinubu in 2027 behind the scene."

The Takeaway

If Bature's claims hold weight, it suggests that Nigeria’s opposition coalition might be fractured from within long before the 2027 ballot papers are even printed. Playing a double game in Northern politics is a high-stakes strategy, and it remains to be seen how Kwankwaso's camp will react to these serious allegations.