2027 Election is battle between Nigerians, Oppressors — Kwankwaso

Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has described the 2027 general election as a battle between Nigerians and what he called “the oppressors”, urging citizens to unite beyond political party lines to rescue the country.

Kwankwaso made the remark when he received a delegation of South-East leaders and stakeholders of the Kwankwaso National Network (KNN), led by the group’s South-East Zonal Coordinator, Dr Ukpai Iro Ukpai, at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.

Ukpai, who disclosed details of the meeting in an interview, said the delegation was at the former Kano State governor’s residence to brief him on the activities and mobilisation efforts of KNN ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, the group is working towards securing a decisive victory for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket across the South-East.

Kwankwaso was quoted as saying that the growing dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in the country had created a strong desire among Nigerians for a political reset.

He urged Nigerians to see the 2027 election as more than a contest between political parties, but as a critical decision about the future of the country.

“It is not about me, it is about us,” Kwankwaso was quoted as saying, while urging KNN members and supporters of the alliance to remain committed to the movement beyond the 2027 election.

The former Kano governor also reportedly cited the recent Osun governorship election as evidence that votes could count if Nigerians remained determined to protect their mandates.

He urged citizens to reject electoral fraud and vote selling, stressing that immediate personal benefits should not be placed above the long-term interest of the country.

Kwankwaso also charged KNN leaders to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 polls.

South-East KNN targets five million votes

The South-East delegation subsequently pledged to work towards delivering at least five million votes for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket across the region.

Ukpai said the delegation briefed Kwankwaso on the network’s structures, activities, challenges and mobilisation efforts across the South-East, with particular emphasis on strengthening the alliance and expanding grassroots support.

He said Kwankwaso expressed satisfaction with the activities of KNN, describing the network as one of the major support groups behind the political movement.

The former governor also recalled the historic political cooperation between the North and South-East, citing the Second Republic alliance between former President Shehu Shagari and Dr Alex Ekwueme.

“The North has always worked in alliance with the South, especially the South-East. President Shehu Shagari picked Dr Alex Ekwueme as his Vice. Today, what is most important, history is repeating itself,” he was quoted as saying.

Kwankwaso also described the NDC as the biggest opposition platform in the country and expressed confidence that its political influence would continue to grow.

He reportedly highlighted insecurity, poor infrastructure, unreliable electricity and water supply, declining educational standards and challenges in agriculture as some of the problems requiring urgent attention.

According to Ukpai, Kwankwaso further promised that education would receive priority under an Obi-Kwankwaso administration, while lamenting what he described as the continued neglect of the sector.

National Coordinator of KNN, Asiwaju Mashood Shitu, reportedly described the South-East delegation’s meeting with Kwankwaso as evidence of the growing commitment of the network across the country.

Shitu commended the level of mobilisation in the region, saying KNN had developed a grassroots structure capable of delivering victory in 2027.

“They are doing great. They are doing wonderful. It’s a visionary movement,” he was quoted as saying.

He described the mobilisation as “a very big sign of victory ahead of 2027”, adding that KNN would focus not only on securing votes but also on protecting the mandates of voters during the election.

‘South-East will deliver five million votes’ — Ukpai

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Ukpai described the engagement as “emotional and exciting”, saying it provided an opportunity for the South-East KNN leadership to present its achievements, vision and expectations directly to Kwankwaso.

He said Kwankwaso was impressed by the stability and growing strength of the network in the region and pledged his support for its mobilisation efforts.

“He’s excited that the Southeast KNN is very stable, very excited about the alliance and forward-looking, not just about today but about the future,” Ukpai said.

Ukpai also commended Kwankwaso for accepting to shelve his presidential ambition in favour of a joint ticket with Peter Obi, saying the South-East would continue to appreciate the former Kano governor beyond the 2027 election.

On the expected performance of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket in the region, Ukpai said the South-East structure was determined to deliver at least five million votes.

“I promise that based on the enthusiasm and the hard work of Southeast KNN members, we will deliver five million votes, if not more,” he declared.

He said the meeting ended with a renewed commitment by the South-East KNN leadership to deepen grassroots mobilisation and translate the growing support for the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance into votes in the 2027 presidential election.

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