Former Kano State Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed claims that he is secretly working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

Kwankwaso described the allegation as baseless and politically motivated during a televised interview on Thursday.

The claim was earlier made by Sanusi Bature, spokesperson to Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who had suggested that Kwankwaso might be operating “behind the scenes” in support of President Tinubu, despite their political differences.

Reacting to the allegation, Kwankwaso said his political movement remains independent and guided by its own ideology.

“I think only foolish people would believe that. We are not working for anybody. We are only working for ourselves and our political direction,” he said.

The former governor, a key figure in the NNPP, and now in the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, also addressed his relationship with President Tinubu, saying while both of them have a long-standing personal friendship, it does not mean political alignment.

“Bola Tinubu has been my senior brother and good friend up till now,” he said, “but that does not mean we will merge political ideologies. He is doing his own politics, and I am doing mine.”

Kwankwaso further argued that Nigeria’s current leadership challenges stem from misinformation and poor feedback channels around the Presidency.

He suggested that President Tinubu may not be fully aware of ground realities because those around him may not be providing accurate information on the country’s situation.

According to him, the situation weakens governance and decision-making at the federal level.

Speaking on broader political developments, Kwankwaso said alignments are shifting ahead of 2027 as parties seek to consolidate influence at different levels of government.

He also defended his political consultations with opposition figures, including his past support for former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Kwankwaso explained that such engagements were based on strategic assessments, not personal interests.

He said his group had reviewed candidates across geopolitical zones and concluded that Obi was the most suitable southern candidate within their political arrangement at the time.

The NNPP has been engulfed in an internal leadership crisis, with factions loyal to Kwankwaso and Dr. Boniface Aniebonam laying claim to the party’s structure.

Kwankwaso’s remarks come amid rising political tension and realignment within Nigeria’s opposition and ruling party structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.