Peter Obi, I Not Working For Tinubu, Says Kwankwaso

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed claims that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are secretly working to help President Bola Tinubu secure re-election in 2027.

Kwankwaso said the allegation that the NDC ticket was designed to divide the opposition and weaken the chances of other political actors was baseless.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, the former Kano State governor said his alliance with Obi was driven by shared ideas on national development, not by any arrangement to favour the ruling party.

Responding to those who accused them of playing into Tinubu’s hands, Kwankwaso invoked a Hausa proverb, saying, “If the person talking is a fool, then the person listening should be wise.”

Kwankwaso said the NDC, though a new political platform, had continued to attract members across the country within a short period.

He maintained that the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket was built around common goals in areas such as education, agriculture and human capital development.

“We are a new party, but our membership is advancing rapidly. In less than three months, we have attracted many members. Peter Obi and I share similar ideologies and plans for development in education, agriculture, and human capital development,” he said.

According to him, both leaders agreed to work together because they believe Nigeria needs a political alternative focused on welfare, development and better governance.

Kwankwaso said their partnership was not meant to undermine any opposition figure but to present Nigerians with a platform capable of addressing the country’s challenges.

The former governor also downplayed reported friction between supporters of the NDC and those of other opposition leaders, especially former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He said he had never directed his supporters to attack Atiku and believed the former vice president would also not encourage his own followers to attack the NDC camp.

“I have never directed my followers to attack Atiku, neither have I attacked him directly. I am sure he also will not direct his people to attack us. Any issues between the two camps are being incited by a few mischievous people,” he stated.

Kwankwaso said disagreements among opposition supporters should not be allowed to distract from the larger goal of offering Nigerians better leadership.

Addressing criticism over his earlier remark that the office of the vice president was like a “spare part,” Kwankwaso said Obi had given assurances that the vice president would not be reduced to a ceremonial figure under an NDC administration.

He said the understanding between both men was that the vice president would be given meaningful responsibilities in the interest of the country.

“Obi himself publicly declared that he will not just relegate us to the side. There are several responsibilities we will take on for the betterment of the nation, and that is how it should be,” he said.

Kwankwaso noted that the role of a vice president should be properly utilised, especially in an administration seeking to tackle major national problems.

The NDC running mate explained that he accepted the vice-presidential slot because of the need to respect what he described as the country’s power-sharing understanding between the North and the South.

According to him, since it is currently the turn of the South to produce the president, he agreed to run as Obi’s deputy to avoid political confusion.

“I agreed to be vice president because it is currently the turn of the South. So, to avoid confusion, we agreed that he should run, and once they are done, the seat will move back to the North,” he said.

When asked whether he believed Obi would honour an alleged agreement to serve only one term before power returns to the North, Kwankwaso expressed confidence in the former Anambra State governor.

“I believe Peter Obi, as a distinguished gentleman, will keep his word of running for a single term to fulfil the turn of the South, and the presidency will move back to the North,” he added.

The remarks come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition leaders facing questions over alliances, power rotation and the possibility of presenting a united challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Kwankwaso, however, maintained that the NDC ticket was not a plot to divide the opposition but a genuine political project aimed at addressing Nigeria’s development needs.