The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as “inconsequential” in Nigerian national politics, reigniting a long-standing feud between Kwankwaso and the PDP. This latest development follows Kwankwaso’s claim that the PDP is dead, stating that he and his followers left the party because it had gone off track.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, has a complex history with the PDP. He was a member of the party from 1998 to 2014, serving as governor from 1999 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2015. However, he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014, only to return to the PDP in 2018.
In 2022, Kwankwaso left the PDP again to form the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), citing disagreements with the party’s leadership. Since then, he has been critical of the PDP, claiming that it has lost touch with its founding principles.
The PDP, however, has consistently dismissed Kwankwaso’s claims, labeling him as a selfish and opportunistic politician. In 2022, the PDP accused Kwankwaso of trying to sabotage the party’s chances in the 2023 elections by forming the NNPP.
The latest statement from the PDP spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, is the latest salvo in this ongoing feud. Ologunagba highlighted the PDP’s strong presence in the country, with 13 governors, numerous senators, and representatives in the House of Representatives, state assemblies, and local government areas.
In contrast, Kwankwaso’s NNPP controls only one state, Kano, and has struggled to gain traction nationally. Ologunagba criticized Kwankwaso for his selfishness and self-centeredness, prioritizing his presidential ambitions over the country’s pressing issues, such as poverty, hunger, and economic hardship.
The feud between Kwankwaso and the PDP is likely to continue, with both sides trading barbs and accusations. However, it remains to be seen how this will impact the political landscape in Nigeria, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
