‘Kwankwaso’s Demands Is Over-ambition, Cannot Be Accepted’ – APC Chieftain, Raimi

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Taofiq Raimi, has described the purported demands of the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as over-ambition, and the party cannot accept such conditions.

Abia Radio News reports that Raimi, during an interview on ARISE Television’s ‘Prime Time’ programme, said the alleged requests, including control of 20 per cent of the APC’s national structure, the vice-presidential slot and a guaranteed presidential ticket in 2031, were incompatible with the party’s size, diversity and internal power balance.

Raimi argued that such demands reflected excessive personal ambition rather than a willingness to work within a broad coalition.

He said, “What Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso demanded from our party has been quite correctly reported as unrealistic and overrated. If one individual controls 20 per cent of the national structure, it means five people would effectively control the entire party. That cannot be accepted in a party with 36 states and 774 local governments.

“That is over-ambition. It should be a lesson for those who believe they cannot sacrifice personal interests for the general interest of the party.”

According to Raimi, the reported demand for the vice-presidential slot is premature and politically untenable, stressing that the current Vice President, Kashim Shettima, will remain on the same ticket with President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He said, “We believe that demand is immature at this moment.

“We currently have a vice-president who is doing very well, complementing the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Without prejudice to future dynamics, we believe he will remain on the same ticket.”

Despite his criticism, Raimi said the APC leadership remained open to engagement with Kwankwaso, stressing that political negotiations must ultimately serve national cohesion rather than elite bargaining.

He added, “Our president is one of the greatest political strategists to come out of Nigeria in modern democracy. If Senator Kwankwaso believes he can work with other stakeholders for the benefit of Nigeria, the door remains open.

“Whoever leads Nigeria occupies a strategic position, not just for this country but for Africa. Politics must be about collaboration for national development, not overreaching demands.”