The decision by President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to forge a political deal with the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, reportedly crumbled due to his excessive and unrealistic demands.

BEYOND AFRICA reports that Kwankwaso was courted to join the APC due to the perceived electoral value of his red-cap movement, Kwankwasiyya, and NNPP’s performance in the 2023 general election.

APC chieftains who spoke with THISDAY said the presidency viewed Kwankwaso as a strategic bridge into Kano and parts of the North-west, and President Bola Tinubu held multiple meetings with him, especially in Abuja.

According to the sources, the negotiations broke down over what was described as excessive and unrealistic demands, with Kwankwaso seeking control of up to 20 per cent of APC’s national structure, alongside a vice presidential slot and guarantees extending to the 2031 political cycle.

TOP APC members said Kwankwaso’s requests immediately raised red flags as manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 polls gathered pace, noting that the demand for 20 per cent of the APC structure was the deal breaker.

The source familiar with the negotiation said, “Even President Bola Tinubu has not specifically asked for any percentage share of the APC. That demand for 20 per cent of the structure of the APC nationwide was a deal breaker. Besides, the vice-presidential position was never on the table.

“It was made clear to him that it was not vacant, and there was no basis for discussions around 2031 at this stage.”

Another top APC chieftain said it was striking to APC negotiators that Kwankwaso was seeking assurances not just for immediate accommodation, but also for influence over the party’s succession plans, with an eye firmly on 2031.

The APC chieftain said, “He was clearly overreaching.”

According to APC sources, when no headway was made in engaging Kwankwaso, the presumed gatekeeper of Kano politics, Tinubu recalibrated his strategy.

The President and APC negotiators reportedly turned their attention to consolidating ties with Kano governor Abba Yusuf, betting that incumbency, federal leverage, and direct engagement would yield better results than a protracted courtship of Kwankwaso.

The source added, “That was the turning point. Once it became clear that Kwankwaso no longer controlled the entire Kano political space the way he claimed, especially with divisions between him and his erstwhile political godson, the presidency decided it made more sense to deal with the governor”