Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has dismissed the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), insisting it lacks the political strength to secure victory in Kano State during the 2027 general election.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the former Kano State governor argued that the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance does not possess the political credibility or governance record capable of attracting the support of Kano voters.
“I don’t think Peter Obi and Kwankwaso’s ticket will succeed in Kano. It will not succeed. In fact, it is dead on arrival,” Ganduje declared.
The former APC chairman questioned Obi’s achievements while serving as governor of Anambra State, maintaining that the former Labour Party presidential candidate had not demonstrated the leadership qualities required to govern Nigeria.
“Because Peter Obi was a governor in the South-East geopolitical zone, a governor in Anambra State. What did he do as a governor? What legacy did he leave as a governor?” he asked.
Ganduje further questioned Obi’s broader experience in public service, suggesting that his record did not inspire confidence in his ability to manage the affairs of the country.
“And from that, what other responsibility in governance did he hold that he made a mark to the extent that we believe he will be able to manage this country effectively and efficiently?” he said.
Turning to Kwankwaso, Ganduje criticised the former Kano State governor’s political trajectory, noting that he was unable to secure two uninterrupted terms in office, unlike some of his successors.
“Kwankwaso too, he was a governor of Kano State. He was not able to be a governor back-to-back,” he stated.
He contrasted Kwankwaso’s tenure with those of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and himself, both of whom governed Kano State for two consecutive terms.
“So far, the two other governors in Kano were able to win elections back-to-back. Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau was able to spend eight years straight. Myself, I was able to spend eight years straight,” Ganduje said.
The former governor also questioned Kwankwaso’s legacy in Kano, arguing that it was insufficient to convince residents of the state or Nigerians that he would make an effective vice-president.
“So I don’t think, even in Kano, what legacy specifically can you say that he has left in Kano that will convince the people of Kano, will convince the people of Nigeria that he will be a successful vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?” Ganduje said.
His comments come amid growing political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with several opposition figures seeking alliances capable of challenging the ruling APC at the national level.
The reported NDC ticket pairing Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso has generated considerable debate within Nigeria’s political landscape, with supporters describing it as a formidable coalition while critics question its electoral viability in key voting blocs such as Kano State.
