Kwankwaso Slams Political Defections, Labels Them “Greatest Political Sin”

Leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has condemned the wave of defections by politicians to rival parties after winning elections, describing the trend as the “greatest political sin” in a democracy.

Speaking in Kano on Friday during a reception for new members from Takai Local Government Area, Kano South, Kwankwaso said such defections constitute a betrayal of the electorate’s trust and a distortion of democratic values.

The defection event, held at his residence on Miller Road, comes amid a spate of high-profile departures from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), including Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila and House of Representatives member Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, representing Rano, Kibiya, and Bunkure federal constituency.

Reflecting on the political journey of the movement, Kwankwaso noted that the 2019 and 2023 general elections had offered critical lessons that have made the NNPP stronger and more resilient.

He described the Kwankwasiyya movement as a people-driven force, rooted in service and not transactional politics. “This movement is for the people. It is not about money. Some people collected spaghetti and N2,000 to vote. But in Kano, the poor stood firm. If it were left to those selling their votes, the NNPP wouldn’t have succeeded,” he said.

Kwankwaso criticized those who defect after benefitting from the goodwill of the masses, saying such actions are the worst form of political betrayal.

“This is the highest form of betrayal in a democratic setting. When vulnerable people vote for you and you turn around to join their oppressors, it is a political sin of the highest order,” he declared.

He also issued a stern warning to those who underestimate the strength of the Kwankwasiyya movement. “Fighting this movement is a grave mistake. One may not understand until he engages in that fight—and then he’ll realize how tough it is,” he said.

Kwankwaso urged his supporters to remain committed and continue mobilizing at the grassroots, regardless of whether they hold positions or contracts.

“Whether you got an appointment or not, whether you got a contract or not, we are all in this for the right reasons. The poor now understand everything, and that is our strength,” he said.

Welcoming the new defectors, Kwankwaso congratulated them on joining the NNPP, expressing confidence that the party’s influence would continue to grow across the state and the country.