2027: North believes Peter Obi can move Nigeria forward — Kwankwaso

Former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has revealed that northern political leaders deliberately assessed possible allies before settling on Peter Obi as the most capable partner for the 2027 presidential project.

Kwankwaso made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, where he dismissed speculations of an underlying power struggle between his political camp and Obi’s within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to him, northern leaders carefully evaluated individuals capable of working sincerely with them to move Nigeria forward before arriving at Obi as their preferred ally.

“I looked around together with our leadership in the north to say, okay, who do we think is capable? Who can come and work together with us honestly so that we can move this country? Along the line, we realised that Peter Obi is at the forefront of it. That’s why we all accepted to work together,” Kwankwaso said.

The former NNPP presidential candidate explained that the alliance was built on trust, competence, and a shared vision for national development rather than mere regional calculations.

He also rejected suggestions that tensions could emerge between both camps, arguing that conflicts between political leaders and their deputies often stem from greed rather than structural disagreements.

“The problem people are having, especially leaders, is that they are too greedy to the extent that they begin to have issues. There is so much to do. You don’t have to fight your deputy,” he stated.

Kwankwaso cited his experiences as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and governor of Kano State as examples of stable political partnerships, noting that he successfully worked with deputies and handed over power peacefully.

He further linked the emerging North-South East alliance to historical political collaborations in Nigeria, referencing the partnerships between former Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and NCNC leaders in the First Republic, as well as between former President Shehu Shagari and former Vice President Alex Ekwueme during the Second Republic.

Kwankwaso maintained that Obi’s emergence was based on merit and growing national acceptance, stressing that the alliance was not formed simply to satisfy regional balancing.

The political coalition between Kwankwaso and Obi within the NDC has continued to reshape opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections, with increasing defections from other parties into the platform.

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