The Labour Party (LP) welcomed Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s offer to serve as Peter Obi’s running mate in the upcoming presidential election. Kwankwaso, who ran as the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) candidate in the 2023 election, had shown interest in working with Obi. The offer came after previous discussions between the LP and the NNPP fell apart before the 2023 elections due to leadership disagreements between the two politicians.
In a recent viral post, Kwankwaso expressed his willingness to be Obi’s deputy, a notable shift from their earlier failed negotiations. The two political figures had considered forming an alliance in 2023, but neither was willing to concede the leadership role, which led to the collapse of the potential partnership.
Kwankwaso, who once served as the governor of Kano State, shared his thoughts in a widely circulated video. He mentioned that while he believes he holds a higher political stature than Obi, he is open to becoming his running mate, provided certain conditions are met. In his words, “I am more experienced than Peter Obi politically. I have a Ph.D., and I performed better as a governor. But I don’t mind being his deputy if certain conditions are agreed upon.”
The former governor stressed that while he was open to discussions, these talks would only move forward if mutual trust was established between the two parties. In the 2023 election, Obi, the Labour Party candidate, had finished in third place, securing over six million votes. Kwankwaso, on the other hand, came in fourth with fewer than two million votes. Despite this, Kwankwaso has remained an outspoken critic of the current government, led by President Bola Tinubu. He has frequently spoken against the government’s economic policies, blaming them for causing widespread hardship among Nigerians.
The Labour Party, through its National Secretary Umar Farouk, responded positively to Kwankwaso’s recent offer. Farouk, in an interview, expressed satisfaction with Kwankwaso’s willingness to reconsider an alliance with Obi. He noted that the Labour Party is always open to collaboration with individuals who share its values and ideology. However, Farouk also urged Kwankwaso to refrain from making statements about his superiority in terms of political experience or education, as such remarks could harm future negotiations.
Farouk highlighted that Kwankwaso’s claim of being a more prominent politician and his emphasis on his educational achievements were unnecessary. He pointed out that despite Kwankwaso’s popularity in the northern region of Nigeria, he was only able to secure fewer than two million votes in the 2023 election. In contrast, Peter Obi managed to gather over six million votes nationwide.
Farouk further criticized Kwankwaso’s tenure as the Minister of Defense, suggesting that his performance in that role did not justify his claims of superiority. He advised politicians to be mindful of the political climate and the needs of the electorate, rather than making comparisons based on past accomplishments.
Farouk emphasized that while the dynamics of the 2027 election may differ from those of 2023, it would be beneficial for both Obi and Kwankwaso to unite in their efforts to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government. However, he acknowledged that the current government would not sit idly by and allow such an alliance to succeed without opposition.
In a related development, Ado Garba Tati, a legislative aide to the Deputy President of the Senate, expressed confidence that President Tinubu would win re-election in 2027. Despite the criticisms of Tinubu’s reform policies by opposition parties, Tati was optimistic that the president would secure a landslide victory.
Tati, speaking to journalists in Kano, praised the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, for his efforts in improving the lives of the people in Kano State. According to him, Jibrin’s various initiatives have gained widespread support from the people, and this goodwill would translate into massive votes for President Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Jibrin’s initiatives, which include women and youth empowerment programs, scholarship schemes, and the construction of federal and feeder roads, have had a positive impact on the people of Kano North, Tati said. These efforts have also helped attract new members to the APC, with many former NNPP supporters defecting to the ruling party.
Tati noted that Jibrin’s development programs, along with President Tinubu’s patriotic reform policies, would likely lead to overwhelming support for the APC in the next election. He added that despite the fact that Kano State is currently controlled by the NNPP, the APC has continued to gain ground, with thousands of new members joining its ranks. Tati expressed confidence that this trend would continue, further boosting the chances of Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 elections.
