Kwankwaso directs loyalists to return fire for fire in 2027

By Ihechukwu Sunday

Presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has ordered his Kwankwasiyya movement supporters to prepare for whatever the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may come up with in next year’s general elections.
Asking them to prepare for the worst case scenario, urging them to return violence for violence for it gets to that point, provided they would not allow anybody to tamper with their votes.
He gave the directive on Monday while receiving the membership card of his new political platform, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), at his Miller Road residence. He also directed them to, henceforth, perfect their registration with the opposition party ahead of time and be well prepared for violence in the worst case scenario.
The former Senator representing Kano Central, who dumped his last adopted political party, the NNPP at the weekend, urged the Kwankwasiyya loyalists to do whatever it takes to defend their votes in the next election and tackle any element of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who may want to steal their votes.
Kwankwaso, who spoke in Hausa, directed his followers to prepare for “violence” in defence of their votes at the polling units and remain firm across the polling units until their votes are counted.
The leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, who instructed members to embark on aggressive membership registration, also urged them to activate their voter card registration to send the ruling APC parking in Kano and Nigeria.
He was received by the National Chairman of the party, former President of the Senate, David Mark and other prominent figures in the party. He vowed to reclaim the lost structure in Kano through whatever means, including violence and confrontation if it comes to that point.
“Let me, on behalf of my thousands of faithful members, my family, the Kano family and the entire people of this state and all our supporters across the country, welcome our August visitors. We appreciate the almighty Allah for showing us this very historic day because we were committed and decided collectively to join the ADC.
“I’m so happy today that I have collected my membership card for the ADC. And by taking this card, I am advising all of you to go back and immediately register. I am aware that many of you, during the celebration, have decided to go and start registration which is okay. All those who have not registered, should go and register.
“And let me also remind you that by April 1, in the next couple of days, INEC will start registration for the voters card. You must make sure you register, not only the registration of as a party member, but you also have to register with INEC to complete the process. You must prepare for the worst case scenario to defend your votes,” Kwankwaso said .
Kwankwaso, who previously frowned at those galvanising his support to join the ADC, saying the party is full of his enemies, including the likes of Nasir Elrufai, Atiku Abubakar and Aminu Tambuwal, among others, who gave him tough times during his stay in the PDP, are now his new friends.
Earlier, the National Chairman of ADC, Senator Mark welcomed Kwankwaso and his millions of supporters to the ADC, adding that the decision remains a significant step to strengthening democratic system for better Nigeria.
Mark noted that Kwankwaso’s entry into the ADC was not merely a political statement, but a deliberate response to the clarion call by well-meaning Nigerians and opposition leaders to be united and form a common front to protect the nation’s democracy.
While accusing the ruling APC of mounting dangerous threat against multiparty democracy in Nigeria, Mark expressed concern that Nigerians were witnessing a steady attempt to concentrate power in an individual and edge the nation toward a one-party state.
“There is no doubt that the ruling party, the APC, represents the most dangerous threat to multiparty democracy in Nigeria today. At a time when Nigeria should be strengthening her democracy, we are witnessing a dangerous drift to weaken opposition.
“Your entrance into the ADC represents our collective resolve to align with the people.
“The ruling party is determined to leave the people with no choice. Nigerians must have a choice. Nigerians must have the right to choose. In a democracy, participation is everything. And anything that is done to close the space on participation is a direct attack on democracy and must be resisted through all lawful means.
“What we are witnessing today is one of those lawful means. It is our way of saying no to totalitarian rule in Nigeria. It is a way of saying, let the people decide. By coming together, we are sending a clear message that the future of Nigeria cannot be built through domination, it must be built through participation. Leadership cannot be sustained by control; it must be earned through trust.
“The ADC now stands as the rallying point of a new national movement, a movement of inclusion, competence, integrity and progress. A movement not powered by coercion, but by ordinary Nigerians determined to reclaim their country,” Mark declared.
The event was attended by former governors, including Aminu Tamborawa of Sokoto State; Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Emeka Ihedioha of Imo; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pastor Babachir Lawal and former Director General, Department of State Service, Lawal Daura, among others.