Leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has lashed out at politicians who defect to rival parties after winning elections with the backing of the people, describing such acts as the “greatest political sin” in a democratic setting.
Kwankwaso made the remarks on Friday at his Miller Road residence while receiving dozens of defectors from Takai Local Government Area into the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The comments come in the wake of several high-profile defections from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a development political observers say reflects internal party realignments ahead of upcoming political contests.
Without naming names, Kwankwaso criticized politicians who, after gaining office through the goodwill of the electorate, abandon the very people who trusted them at the ballot box.
“This is the highest form of betrayal in a democracy. I don’t know of any greater political sin than when vulnerable people vote for you—rejecting deceivers and enemies of progress—and you turn around to join those same enemies after winning. Had the people known, they wouldn’t have voted for you,” he said.
Kwankwaso reflected on the endurance of the Kwankwasiyya movement through turbulent political times, particularly in 2015, when he said some individuals joined with hidden motives to destabilize the group.
“But thank God, the movement did not derail,” he added.
He cautioned against underestimating the strength and resilience of the movement, stating: “Fighting the Kwankwasiyya movement is a grave mistake. One may not understand until he engages in that fight—and then he’ll realize how tough it is to battle a solid wall.”
Kwankwaso reaffirmed the movement’s focus on the masses, urging members to remain united and continue mobilizing support at the grassroots level.
“Whether or not you hold office, receive appointments, or get contracts, we are all driven by the same mission. The poor now understand everything, and that awareness is what brought us to this point. Go back to your communities and bring more people into this struggle,” he said.
The former presidential candidate of the NNPP congratulated the new members for joining what he described as “a movement built for the people,” assuring them of greater opportunities and representation.
