Keyamo: Kwankwaso faces 2027 dilemma, boxes self in political ‘tightest corner’ after rejecting APC

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, may have boxed himself into the tightest corner of his political career by refusing to align with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and APC chieftain, made the assertion in a lengthy post on his X account. He argued that Kwankwaso’s rejection of the ruling party’s overtures has left him with limited options, especially amid internal turmoil and mass defections within his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The Minister outlined that Kwankwaso’s presidential ambition faces significant hurdles in 2027. He noted that both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are likely to zone their presidential tickets to the South, while dismissing the NNPP as a weakened “one-state party” following the defection of Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and others.

Keyamo asserted that Kwankwaso would not support a Northern candidate like Atiku Abubakar, as doing so could delay his own presidential bid by up to 16 years, making him 86 years old by his next potential chance in 2043. He stated this entirely rules out a potential Atiku-Kwankwaso cooperation for 2027.

He suggested Kwankwaso’s viable path lies in aiming for 2031 but requires forging an alliance now with a major party, which would mean suspending his 2027 ambition. Keyamo analyzed three potential options: returning to the PDP, joining the APC, or aligning with the Labour Party (LP).

He explained that joining either the PDP or APC would require Kwankwaso to wait until 2031 for a presidential run. He added that the Labour Party option is narrow, as Kwankwaso would not accept a vice-presidential candidacy under Peter Obi.

Keyamo warned that without merging with a major party, Kwankwaso risks becoming a “local champion” and that the NNPP’s grip on Kano may “soon vanish.” He concluded that the former governor is at a “very difficult political crossroads,” and the decision he makes now could either permanently retire him from politics or revive his presidential ambition.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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