The Kano APC, which is essentially under his control, has formally dismissed the possibility of ceding ground to Kwankwaso. For APC loyalists in Kano, accepting Kwankwaso could mean losing the structures they fought to build. In the 2023 elections, the NNPP swept Kano with over one million votes, leaving APC bruised despite its national dominance. Despite the denials, few in Kano believe Kwankwaso has abandoned the option of returning to APC. A merger, or return to APC, could thrust Kwankwaso back into the center of national politics, and perhaps, into Tinubu’s 2027 calculations.