In a recent development ahead of the 2027 elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the last general elections, expressed his willingness to serve as the deputy to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the same elections. In a video clip circulating on the X platform, Kwankwaso, who is also a former governor of Kano State, emphasized that he would consider this arrangement only if “certain conditions are met.”
Kwankwaso stated that he believes he is politically more significant than Obi. He remarked, “I’m bigger than Peter Obi politically; I’m his elder brother, and I hold a PhD. I performed better than him when I was a governor of my state. I have no problem with deputizing Peter Obi, but only if certain conditions are met.”
The former governor indicated his openness to engaging in meaningful discussions with Obi to establish a mutual agreement ahead of the upcoming elections. “We are willing to engage in discussions, provided that trust is established,” he added.
In the last general elections, Peter Obi secured approximately 6,101,533 votes, finishing third, while Kwankwaso won in 38 out of the 44 local government areas in Kano State, amassing a total of 1,496,687 votes.
Additionally, Kwankwaso has been vocally critical of the current Bola Tinubu-led administration, particularly regarding the distribution of rice palliatives in Kano State. He alleged that rice intended for distribution by the state government was diverted to All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts and their associates. In a post on X, he expressed his disappointment, stating, “For the last week, I have been in Kano, and sadly I noted with great disappointment the Federal Government’s distribution of rice palliatives to 35 states, all through their Governors, except Kano State in the whole federation.”
Kwankwaso further accused the federal government of partisanship, claiming, “Kano’s share was handed over to APC stalwarts to handle. This is a gross insult to our constitutional democracy and drives partisanship too far.” He called on President Tinubu to halt what he described as a “naked derailment of democracy,” highlighting the need for impartial governance.
The federal government has been distributing rice to various states as part of efforts to alleviate the economic hardships and food inflation currently affecting the country.
