Former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said that a joint presidential ticket between Peter Obi and himself under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is the most likely option for the 2027 general election.
Kwankwaso stated this on Trust TV while speaking on the growing political realignments ahead of the next presidential contest, noting that the party’s current mindset strongly supports an Obi-Kwankwaso alliance.
Responding to a question on whether Nigerians should expect a joint ticket between both politicians in 2027, he said, “I believe so, and taking into the party, I think that is their mindset.”
He explained that both he and Obi remain strong political forces in their respective regions and across the country, making such an alliance a realistic and strategic option for the opposition.
According to him, Obi remains one of the most popular politicians in Southern Nigeria and also commands significant support in many parts of the North.
“Peter Obi is a very popular politician in the entire South and many parts of Northern Nigeria and you cannot take that from him,” he said.
Kwankwaso also pointed to the strength of the Kwankwasiyya movement, insisting that his political structure remains a major force, especially in Kano State and across the North-West.
He cited the electoral victories of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf as evidence of his continued influence, noting that Yusuf won both in 2019 and again in 2023 despite contesting under the smaller platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
“My PA won the election in 2019, again in 2023 with a smaller party,” he said, referring to Yusuf’s victories as proof of the strength of his grassroots support base.
The former governor maintained that with Obi’s popularity in the South and the Kwankwasiyya movement’s dominance in parts of the North, a joint ticket could become the strongest opposition platform against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.