2027: Northern Leaders Chose Obi as Best Partner for National Rescue – Kwankwaso
By Grace Chidimma Ibe
A former Governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has revealed that northern political leaders deliberately assessed possible political allies before agreeing that Peter Obi was the most suitable partner for the 2027 presidential project.
Kwankwaso disclosed during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, where he provided fresh insight into the formation of the North-South-East political alliance within the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the decision to align with Obi followed extensive consultations among northern leaders who were searching for a credible and competent figure capable of working across regional divides to move the country forward.
“I looked around together with our leadership in the North to ask who is capable and who can sincerely work with us for the progress of the country. Along the line, we realised that Peter Obi stood out, and that was why we all agreed to work together,” Kwankwaso said.
He dismissed suggestions that the alliance between both camps was driven by hidden rivalry or personal ambition, insisting that political partnerships only fail when leaders allow greed and selfish interests to overshadow governance.
Kwankwaso argued that there was enough responsibility within government for leaders and their deputies to work harmoniously without conflict, adding that political disagreements between presidents and vice presidents were often unnecessary.
Drawing from his political experience, he recalled his time as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and later as Governor of Kano State, where he said he maintained stable working relationships with political associates despite challenges.
“I worked successfully with my Speaker in the House of Representatives, and as governor, I also worked with my deputy for eight years and eventually handed over power peacefully,” he stated.
The former governor further noted that the same principle of cooperation applied in other public institutions, including the Senate and federal agencies, stressing that governance required teamwork rather than competition among officeholders.
Kwankwaso also anchored the emerging alliance on historical political cooperation between Northern and South-Eastern leaders, saying such partnerships had existed since the First Republic.
He referenced the working relationship between Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and leaders of the NCNC, as well as the alliance between former President Shehu Shagari and his deputy, Alex Ekwueme, during the Second Republic.
According to him, the North and South-East historically maintained strong political ties built on mutual trust and national integration.
He, however, observed that political developments after the annulment of the June 12 election altered the traditional power-sharing arrangement, leading to the emergence of leaders from the South-West, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and later President Bola Tinubu.
Kwankwaso maintained that the current alliance was not based merely on regional balancing, but on competence and shared political vision.
“It is not simply about supporting someone from a particular region. We identified Peter Obi as someone with the needed capacity and credibility, and that informed our decision,” he said.
Both Kwankwaso and Obi formally joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress earlier this month after leaving the crisis-ridden African Democratic Congress.
At the party’s national convention in Abuja, Kwankwaso also endorsed the decision to zone the party’s 2027 presidential ticket to the South, describing the move as a commitment to fairness, national unity, and political inclusion.
The alliance between the two politicians has continued to reshape the opposition landscape, with several senators, House of Representatives members, and political blocs reportedly aligning with the NDC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political observers believe the partnership combines Kwankwaso’s strong grassroots political structure in Northern Nigeria with Obi’s growing support among youths and urban voters nationwide, positioning the NDC as a major opposition force ahead of the next presidential election.
