The Labour Party (LP) has welcomed the recent offer by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, to serve as a running mate to Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential race. Kwankwaso, who had previously been in talks with the LP ahead of the 2023 elections, expressed his willingness to step into the role under certain conditions.
In a video that went viral, Kwankwaso, who served as the former governor of Kano State, indicated that while he is willing to deputize Obi, he would only do so if “certain conditions are met.” Speaking in Hausa, Kwankwaso noted his superior political stature compared to Obi, stating, “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 the governor of my state. I have no problem deputizing for Peter Obi, but only if certain conditions are met.”
The former governor added that he was open to engaging in discussions with Obi, provided trust could be established between the two leaders. He also acknowledged Obi’s political achievements, but emphasized his own greater political profile and experience.
In the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, the LP candidate, came third, securing approximately 6,101,533 votes, while Kwankwaso garnered 1,496,687 votes, finishing in fourth place. Despite the differences in their electoral outcomes, Kwankwaso’s proposal for the 2027 election has brought new life to talks of collaboration between the two parties.
Reacting to Kwankwaso’s offer, Umar Farouk, the National Secretary of the Labour Party, told The PUNCH that the renewed move by the former Kano governor was a welcome development. He added, however, that Kwankwaso should avoid undermining Obi’s political standing.
“As a political party, we stand for good governance, and we have equally given all our candidates, both former and serving ones, the opportunity to choose how to associate with people of like minds who share the philosophy and ideology of the Labour Party,” Farouk said. “We are happy Kwankwaso has alighted from the high horse he was riding and is willing to offer himself to Obi as deputy.”
Farouk also addressed Kwankwaso’s remarks about being a “bigger politician” and holding a PhD, suggesting that these should not be the basis for political partnership. “Again, he should stop this talk of being a bigger politician and PhD holder. What did he even do as a minister of defence?” Farouk queried. He also reminded Kwankwaso that in the 2023 election, Obi had garnered over six million votes, while Kwankwaso had received less than two million, despite his so-called popularity in the North.
The LP secretary expressed hope that, unlike in 2023, the 2027 election would see Obi and Kwankwaso come together in a bid to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government. However, he acknowledged that this collaboration would face resistance from the sitting government, which would likely do everything in its power to prevent any successful merger or alliance.
Meanwhile, a legislative aide to the Deputy President of the Senate, Alhaji Ado Garba (Tati), expressed optimism about President Bola Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 election. Speaking in Kano on Sunday, Tati predicted that Tinubu would secure a landslide victory in 2027, largely due to the goodwill enjoyed by the people of Kano from the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin.
Tati highlighted Jibrin’s developmental initiatives in Kano, including women and youth empowerment programs, scholarship schemes, the desilting of dams, and the construction of federal and feeder roads. He noted that these programs had positively impacted the people of Kano North Senatorial District, which Jibrin represents.
“Following Senator Barau’s initiatives and development programs, coupled with President Tinubu’s realistic and patriotic reform policies, we expect the people of Kano to vote for President Tinubu en masse in 2027,” Tati added. He further revealed that Jibrin’s popular programs had been attracting thousands of former NNPP supporters into the APC fold, despite the fact that the Kano State government is controlled by the NNPP.
Tati’s optimism regarding the APC’s prospects in Kano reflected the ongoing political dynamics in the region, where party defections have been prominent in recent months. With both the Labour Party and the APC positioning themselves for the 2027 election, the political landscape in Nigeria is set for a highly competitive race.
