In a recent statement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the last general elections, expressed his willingness to serve as Peter Obi’s deputy in the upcoming 2027 elections, provided certain conditions are fulfilled, OBSERVERSTIMES report .
In a video shared on the social media platform X, the former governor of Kano State, who spoke in Hausa, emphasized that he views himself as a more prominent political figure than Obi. He stated, “I’m bigger than Peter Obi politically; I’m his elder brother, I hold a PhD, and I believe I performed better during my tenure as governor of my state. While I have no issue with the prospect of deputizing for Peter Obi, it is contingent on specific conditions being met.”
Kwankwaso indicated a readiness to engage in constructive discussions with Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, to forge a mutually beneficial agreement ahead of the elections. He remarked, “We are open to discussions, provided that trust is established between us.”
In the previous elections, Peter Obi secured approximately 6,101,533 votes, finishing in third place, while Kwankwaso won in 38 out of 44 local government areas in Kano State, amassing a total of 1,496,687 votes.
Additionally, Kwankwaso has been vocally critical of the current administration led by Bola Tinubu, particularly regarding the distribution of rice palliatives in Kano State. He accused the federal government of politicizing the distribution process, alleging that rice intended for the state was instead allocated to APC leaders and affiliates.
“During my recent week in Kano, I was disappointed to observe the federal government distributing rice palliatives to 35 states through their governors, while Kano was left out entirely,” Kwankwaso stated. “Our share was given to APC stalwarts, which is a blatant affront to our constitutional democracy and exacerbates partisanship.”
He urged the President to intervene and prevent what he described as a “derailment of democracy.”
The federal government has been distributing rice as part of its efforts to alleviate the economic hardships and food inflation affecting the nation.