Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has announced its intention to engage with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Kano State, in an effort to persuade him to rejoin the party. According to the PDP, the party played a pivotal role in nurturing his political career and contributing significantly to his rise in Nigerian politics.
The PDP Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, addressed Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s recent claim that the PDP is “dead” and incapable of future success during an interview with the BBC. Damagun emphasized the party’s openness to welcoming back former members, including Kwankwaso.
“People are entitled to their opinions, but I want to remind him of the past. When they left the PDP in 2015, if the party didn’t die then, during a time they thought they had weakened it, I don’t see why anyone would claim it is dead now,” Damagun stated.
He reiterated the PDP’s resilience, noting it remains the only party capable of winning elections outside the ruling APC. Damagun also highlighted that Kwankwaso’s criticism overlooked his own success, as the PDP platform helped him secure significant political victories in the past.
Despite Kwankwaso’s claims of marginalization in the PDP, which he cited as a reason for rejecting collaboration with the party ahead of the 2027 elections, Damagun admitted that some of his grievances were valid. He recounted efforts to reconcile with Kwankwaso during his earlier attempts to leave the PDP but acknowledged that those efforts were unsuccessful.
“There is no party better suited for Kwankwaso than the PDP,” Damagun insisted. “The party nurtured his political career and brought him to where he is today. We still hope he will return to work with us to rebuild the party and confront this oppressive government.”
He revealed that the PDP plans to reach out to Kwankwaso soon, expressing optimism that his current political aspirations may be more achievable within the PDP.
“The PDP has always been a party that welcomes back its members who left in anger. Whenever they return, we treat them equally and offer opportunities just like everyone else,” Damagun concluded.
