A political analyst, Hassan Ibrahim, has said that former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stands to gain more politically from joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

He described the move as a strategic advantage regardless of the outcome of future elections.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Tuesday, Ibrahim said Kwankwaso’s decision to align with the new political platform places him in a stronger position ahead of the 2027 general elections, whether the alliance succeeds or not.

“For me, Kwankwaso joining the NDC is a right move and I see him as the biggest beneficiary. Whether they succeed in the presidential election or not, he still gains politically.”

The analyst recalled that during negotiations with the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kwankwaso made it clear that he would only abandon his former party, the NNPP, if he was given either the presidential ticket or the vice-presidential slot.

He said this demand was one of the reasons talks with the APC failed.

“Kwankwaso said clearly that if he must leave his party, he must either be made the presidential candidate or the running mate,” he explained.

Ibrahim noted that in the ADC, Kwankwaso finds himself among other strong political figures such as former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, making competition for the presidential ticket tougher.

He said Atiku is still interested in running for president, while Obi remains a strong contender after securing over six million votes in the last election.

He also mentioned Rotimi Amaechi as another key figure seeking the ticket.

“With people like Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi in the same platform, Kwankwaso’s chances of getting the presidential ticket are lower compared to others,” he said.

The analyst explained that because Atiku and Kwankwaso are both from northern Nigeria, they are unlikely to be paired together on the same ticket, which limits Kwankwaso’s chances of becoming a running mate if Atiku emerges.

He added that Kwankwaso would only have a realistic chance of becoming vice president if the presidential ticket goes to someone from the South, such as Peter Obi or Rotimi Amaechi.

Ibrahim also raised concerns about leadership issues within the ADC.

He said the party is facing court cases challenging its structure and legitimacy.

“Both Kwankwaso and Obi are not fully confident about the ongoing court cases. So they are already thinking of a second option in case things don’t go well.”

According to him, Kwankwaso’s move to the NDC gives him access to a platform that is more stable and gives him better control over candidate selection for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, and state assemblies.

He contrasted Kwankwaso with Atiku, saying Kwankwaso has a strong political movement with loyal supporters who depend on him for political direction, unlike Atiku, who mainly seeks a platform for his own presidential ambition.

He also noted that Kwankwaso’s influence in Kano has been affected following the exit of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from his camp, making the need for a broader political platform more important.

“His chances of getting the presidential ticket in the previous arrangement were almost zero, and even the vice-presidential slot was not guaranteed,” he said.

“But now that he has left the ADC and joined the NDC, he has every opportunity, he has every chance to get a position, either as a flag bearer, or as a running mate.”

He further argued that if the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance succeeds, Kwankwaso could become Vice President and later position himself for the presidency in the future.

“If Obi steps aside after eight years, Kwankwaso as Vice President can contest and become President,” he said.

Even if the alliance fails, Ibrahim said Kwankwaso would still benefit by gaining national visibility beyond his traditional northern base.

“Many people see him as a regional politician, but this move gives him national exposure,” he said.

He added that aligning with Obi would also help Kwankwaso appeal more to southern voters and reduce perceptions of ethnic or regional bias.

“He will be able to tell voters in the South that he has worked with a southerner and is not a tribal politician,” he said.