National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has lashed out at politicians who switched political allegiance after gaining power through popular support, describing such defections as the “greatest political sin.”
Speaking in Kano State during a welcome ceremony for new NNPP members from Takai local government area of the State, Kwankwaso took a firm stance against political cross-carpeting, especially after securing victory through the will of the people. The event took place at his Miller Road residence in Kano.
Kwankwaso’s reaction followed a recent wave of defections from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), by notable figures such as Kano South Senator, Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, and a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum.
He criticized those who secured electoral mandates through mass support only to defect to rival political parties, warning that such betrayals undermine democracy and erode public trust.
“This is the highest form of betrayal in a democratic setting. 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 stated.
Kwankwaso also cautioned ambitious politicians against attacking the Kwankwasiyya structure, saying any attack on the movement would be met with firm resistance.
“Fighting the Kwankwasiyya movement is a grave mistake for any politician. One may not understand until he engages in that fight—and then he’ll realize how tough it is to battle a solid wall,” he said.
He called on his loyalists to continue expanding the party’s influence by engaging more people at the grassroots level and upholding the values of the movement regardless of personal gain.
“Whether you’re in this movement with or without an appointment, whether you got a contract or not, I believe we all are in the right frame of mind and grateful to God. The poor now understand everything, and that’s what brought us to this moment we’re witnessing. Go back to your communities and bring more people on board,” he urged.
The NNPP stalwart noted that the political journey of the movement has been shaped by the experiences of successive elections, each offering its own insights and strategic lessons.
“When the 2019 elections came, everyone saw what happened, and the most recent one also taught us valuable lessons,” he stated.
Reaffirming the movement’s core values, Kwankwaso said Kwankwasiyya is driven by service to the people rather than financial incentives. “This movement is for the people. It is a movement that right-thinking individuals should reflect on deeply. It’s not about money. Even what happened in Kano South should be taken as a lesson. Some people collected spaghetti and N2,000 to elect someone. But in Kano, the poor stood firm. If it had been left to those selling their votes, the NNPP wouldn’t have won,” he emphasised.