ABUJA — In a major political development ahead of the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has shed light on his decision to select former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Speaking in a recent interview, the former Anambra State governor stated that the alliance was forged out of a shared vision to transform Nigeria, prioritize education, and aggressively tackle poverty.
Obi noted that Kwankwaso, who leads the influential Kwankwasiyya Movement, mirrors his own philosophy on governance and human capital development.
“Kwankwaso has the philosophy of pulling people out of poverty. I have the same philosophy,” Obi explained. “Kwankwaso believes in education. You cannot change society without education. Nigeria must be seen to form its innermost human capital, which we need to develop. We have synergy.”
Dismissing Rumors of a Rift
Obi also took the opportunity to firmly dismiss speculations regarding any internal friction between him and Kwankwaso. He described their partnership as a united front rooted in “transformational governance” rather than the “transactional governance” that he says has historically held the country back.
“I don’t know why people talk about differences between people who are working together. Have you ever seen us quarrelling?” Obi asked. “We want to change the society and make it better. We want to pull people out of poverty, not the other way around.”
Managing Two Mega-Movements
A key question surrounding the new NDC ticket has been how the campaign will manage the merging of two massive, highly passionate support bases: Obi’s “Obidient” movement and Kwankwaso’s “Kwankwasiyya” followers.
According to Obi, the sheer size of their base is an asset, not a liability, because both groups share the exact same goal. “We do not just have large followers alone. People are gravitating to what is right,” he stated. “We have no problem whatsoever. Our followers want a changed and better society.”
Looking Forward, Not Backward
Obi and Kwankwaso both ran for the presidency in the 2023 elections, placing third and fourth under the Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), respectively. Earlier in 2026, both political heavyweights—alongside PDP flagbearer Atiku Abubakar—attempted to form an alliance under the ADC. However, citing internal crises and legal disputes, Obi and Kwankwaso ultimately defected to form the NDC ticket.
When asked why their political alliance didn’t materialize earlier for the 2023 race, Obi dismissed the question, emphasizing that his eyes are entirely on the upcoming 2027 polls.
“Those who think about yesterday and today will miss tomorrow. The past is gone. We are talking about the present,” Obi concluded.
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