morganable politics/elections
Kwankwaso said his decision to pair with Obi was informed by lessons learnt from the 2023 election, when efforts to establish a political alliance between them did not materialise.
KaNo —
Former Kano State Governor and 2027 vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said his decision to form an alliance with Peter Obi for the 2027 presidential election was driven by national interest, equity and the need for political change.
Kwankwaso also declared that former Kano governors Ibrahim Shekarau and Abdullahi Ganduje, as well as the incumbent governor, Abba Yusuf, had lost their political relevance in the state.
The former governor made the declarations while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria Personality Interview Series on Sunday in Abuja, where he discussed his political relationship with Obi, his decision to accept the vice-presidential slot and the changing political landscape in Kano.
Kwankwaso said his decision to pair with Obi was informed by lessons learnt from the 2023 election, when efforts to establish a political alliance between them did not materialise.
According to him, his interactions with Obi over the last four years had enabled him to understand the former Anambra State governor better and convinced him that they could work together in the interest of Nigeria.
“People learn every day, and that is why experience is very important. In 2023, we attempted to work together and at that particular point, I knew little about Peter Obi.
“But over these last four years, I was able to learn a lot and realised that Peter is somebody that I could work together with,” he said.
Kwankwaso Said Decision Followed Consultations
Kwankwaso said the decision followed consultations with members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and members of the Obidient Movement.
He said the various groups recognised the importance of presenting a politically balanced ticket capable of attracting support from both the North and South.
Kwankwaso Expresses Concern Over Insecurity
The former defence minister said Nigeria’s worsening security situation, declining agricultural productivity, economic hardship and deteriorating infrastructure had strengthened his resolve to support an alliance capable of bringing about democratic change.
Kwankwaso also criticised the state of infrastructure across the country, arguing that widespread deterioration had contributed to the hardship facing Nigerians .
He acknowledged improvements in some areas, including Lagos, but said the overall condition of infrastructure required urgent attention.
According to him, the situation demanded the type of political change Nigerians sought in 2015, adding that the need for such a change was now even greater.
“Nobody, no ticket can beat our own in terms of credibility, in terms of capacity and of course, in terms of love for the country; even in terms of empathy for the population that are suffering across the country today,” he said.
The former governor also addressed questions surrounding his decision to accept the vice-presidential position despite his extensive political experience.
Kwankwaso has served as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, governor of Kano State, Minister of Defence and senator.
He nevertheless said accepting the vice-presidential position should not be interpreted as a political setback.
“I have never been the vice president. I think it is a step forward despite all the things you counted,” he said.
“To me, being in government is to serve. I don’t have to be president. I don’t have to even be vice president. These are things that are in the hands of Almighty Allah.
“But the fact remains that the situation, as it is today, one has to look at it beyond your humble self,” he said.
Kwankwaso said the political understanding between him and Obi was that the South should produce the president for one term before power returns to the North.
Alliance Necessary For Balance-Kwankwaso
He said the arrangement was important for achieving national balance and securing the confidence of political supporters across the country.
The former governor cited historical examples to argue that political leaders should be willing to accept positions that allow them to contribute to national development.
He referenced the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who, according to him, chose to remain Premier rather than become Prime Minister.
He therefore rejected the notion that accepting a lower political office necessarily represented a loss of status.
The former Kano governor also dismissed claims that his political engagements with the All Progressives Congress or other political actors had been driven primarily by a desire to secure the presidential ticket.
He said his discussions with President Bola Tinubu after the 2023 election were focused on the possibility of working together and were not conditional on abandoning the NNPP or obtaining a specific political position.
Kwankwaso also recalled his role in the APC’s electoral victory in 2015, particularly the support the party received in Kano.
However, he said he later became disappointed with the party’s leadership and its handling of political affairs.
He expressed confidence that the alliance with Obi would be different, citing what he described as Obi’s commitment to fairness, justice and national unity.
According to Kwankwaso, the one-term understanding was particularly important because it would ensure that the North was not permanently excluded from the presidency.
He said he trusted Obi to honour the political agreement and work with him as a genuine partner rather than treat the vice-president as a “spare tyre.”
Kwankwaso said his experience as a deputy speaker, minister and governor had taught him that effective deputies could make significant contributions to government when given the opportunity.
He argued that a president or governor who assigns meaningful responsibilities to a deputy ultimately strengthens the administration because the deputy’s success contributes to the success of the principal.
He said he was therefore comfortable with the proposed power-sharing arrangement and confident that Obi would give him the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to governance.
On Kano politics, Kwankwaso was particularly critical of politicians who were once associated with his political movement but later fell out with him.
He declared that former governors Ibrahim Shekarau and Abdullahi Ganduje, alongside incumbent Governor Abba Yusuf, had lost their political relevance in the state.
The claim is likely to generate significant political reactions in Kano, where the three politicians have maintained considerable influence at different stages of the state’s political development.
Yusuf, a former political associate and successor to Kwankwaso’s political movement in Kano, currently leads the state government.
Kwankwaso’s remarks therefore underscore the growing political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most politically influential states.
With the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance seeking to combine support from the North and South, the former governor is positioning the ticket as an alternative to the established political parties.
The 2027 contest is expected to produce intense competition among major political blocs, with regional calculations, economic hardship, security and the performance of the current administration likely to influence voters.
For Kwankwaso, however, the proposed alliance is ultimately about placing national interest above individual ambition.
He maintained that political leaders should be willing to serve wherever circumstances require, insisting that the objective of seeking public office should be the welfare of citizens and the development of the country.
