Rabiu Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the last election, has expressed willingness to serve as Peter Obi’s deputy in the 2027 elections—provided certain conditions are met.
The former Kano State governor made this statement in a trending video on X, where he spoke in Hausa.
“I’m bigger than Peter Obi politically, I’m his elder brother, I’m a PhD holder, I performed better than him when I was a governor of my state. I’ve no problem with deputising Peter Obi, but only if certain conditions are met,” Kwankwaso said.
Kwankwaso added that both he and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last elections, are open to discussions ahead of the 2027 polls.
“We are willing to engage in discussions, provided that trust is established,” he added.
During the last general elections, Obi secured about 6,101,533 votes, placing third overall, while Kwankwaso won in 38 out of the 44 local government areas in Kano State with a total of 1,496,687 votes.
In recent months, Kwankwaso has been outspoken about the current administration, particularly criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s government for allegedly politicizing the distribution of rice palliatives in Kano State.
In a post on X, Kwankwaso accused the government of handing the state’s share of palliatives to APC loyalists rather than distributing it fairly through the state government.
“For the last one week I have been in Kano, and sadly I noted with great disappointment the Federal Government distribution of rice palliative to 35 states all through their Governors, except Kano State in the whole federation,” Kwankwaso wrote.
He added, “Kano’s share was handed over to APC stalwarts to handle. This is a gross insult to our constitutional democracy and driving partisanship too far.”
Kwankwaso called on President Tinubu to intervene, saying, “I call on Mr. President to immediately halt this naked derailment of democracy.”
The rice distribution is part of a federal government initiative to alleviate economic hardship and combat rising food inflation across the country.
