Kwankwaso ditches Tinubu after meetings, raising hopes of working with president

Former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso,  has ditched President Bola Tinubu after reportedly holding some meetings with the former Lagos State governor and giving hopes of his willingness to work with him.

Kwankwaso, according to a report by The Punch  had on Monday, July 21, 2025   held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the president’s official residence.

“The meeting followed Kwankwaso’s appearance at the opening of the Nigeria Forest Economy Summit 2025 held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. It is the second publicly known encounter between the two men in just over two years.Their last recorded meeting in the Aso Rock Villa took place on June 9, 2023, days after Tinubu’s inauguration, making Kwankwaso the first presidential candidate to visit the President.

“Addressing State House correspondents at the time, Kwankwaso said he discussed politics and governance with the president. He also said he might work with Tinubu, but did not state the details.Although the July 21, 2025 meeting was not open to the press, the visit came only weeks after the opposition African Democratic Congress announced a broad-based coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections,” the report said.

Another  report by The Cable on May 16 2023 said Kwankwaso met Tinubu  for four hours in Paris, France.

The report partly reads: “At the centre of the discussion, TheCable understands, was the potential involvement of Kwankwaso in the incoming administration as Tinubu plans to form a “government of national unity” — which means giving certain positions to opposition parties.

The meeting also discussed issues around the election of the legislative leaders ahead of the June 13 inauguration of the 10th national assembly.

“The Paris meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso started at 12.30 pm and ended at 4.45 pm, insiders told TheCable. Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of reps and presumptive chief of staff to the president-elect, attended the meeting while Abdulmumin Jibrin, an NNPP rep-elect and former leader of a Tinubu campaign organisation, accompanied Kwankwaso.Oluremi Tinubu, senator and wife of president-elect received Kwankwaso’s wife, Salamatu.

“TheCable learnt that Tinubu and Kwankwaso reminisced on their relationship dating back to the national assembly in 1992. Tinubu was a senator while Kwankwaso was deputy speaker in the house of reps.

“TheCable understands that Kwankwaso, in principle, agreed to join Tinubu’s government subject to consultations with the stakeholders on both sides.

“Tinubu is expected to brief Kashim Shettima, the vice-president elect, APC governors forum and other party leaders while Kwankwaso will do the same with his party leadership.”

After raising hopes of the leadership of the APC through his body language and suggestive utterances,  that he would join the party, the former NNPP presidential candidate in the last election last weekend announced plans to register with the African Democratic Congress.

His group,  Kwankwasiyya Movement also last weekend directed its members nationwide to register with the African Democratic Congress following plans by its leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to join the party.