‘I’m not fighting anybody, politics is a game’- Kwankwaso explains why he left Atiku in ADC

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has clarified that his decision to leave the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside Peter Obi, was not due to any personal rift with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday, Kwankwaso explained that the exit was prompted by unresolved internal issues within the party that could impact its future electoral prospects.

“Peter Obi himself decided to leave ADC not because we are fighting with Atiku Abubakar or anybody there. We decided to leave that party because we realized that there are some issues as it stands now,” Kwankwaso said.

He went on to detail that the ADC was grappling with three major unresolved issues, which the party believed could hinder its ability to field candidates in future elections.

Kwankwaso also acknowledged that it remained uncertain whether the ADC would be able to present candidates in upcoming contests, casting doubt on the party’s future stability.

Addressing the broader political landscape, Kwankwaso dismissed claims of hostility among opposition figures, noting that political contests should be viewed strategically, not as personal battles.

Reflecting on past experiences with Atiku, he recalled contesting in previous presidential primaries without animosity. “In 2015, I contested against Atiku in the primary election; Buhari was number one, I was number two, Atiku was number three,” Kwankwaso said.

He further highlighted that he coordinated Atiku’s campaign in the North during the 2019 election, emphasizing that politics was “just a game” and stating, “I’m not fighting anybody, and I’m not expecting anybody to fight me.”