2027 Presidency: Peter Obi Reveals Why He Selected Kwankwaso as Running Mate

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has detailed the reasoning behind his selection of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former Governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, as his vice-presidential running mate for the upcoming 2027 presidential election.

In a newly published interview on Sunday, Obi explained that the decision was anchored on a shared governance philosophy centered on poverty eradication, economic development, and massive investment in public education. He emphasized that Kwankwaso’s past administrative record and socio-economic worldview perfectly match his own vision for national transformation.

“Kwankwaso has the philosophy of pulling people out of poverty,” Obi stated. “I have the same philosophy. Kwankwaso believes in education. You cannot change society without education. Nigeria must be seen to form its innermost human capital, which we need to develop. Kwankwaso believes in this. I do. We have synergy.”

The former Anambra State Governor strongly dismissed speculations regarding internal friction between himself and the former Kano governor, affirming that their partnership remains robust as they prepare for the general elections scheduled for January 2027. He attributed rumored political rifts to a culture of transactional politics, which he distanced his campaign from, stating his focus is entirely on transformational governance.

The pairing brings together two prominent contenders from the 2023 presidential race, where Obi and Kwankwaso finished third and fourth, respectively, under different political parties. Following a brief coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) earlier in 2026, both leaders moved to the NDC following internal party crises and legal disputes within their former alliance.

Addressing past failed attempts at unification prior to the 2023 elections, Obi remarked that his focus is squarely on the future of the country rather than re-litigating past political timelines. He also expressed confidence in harmonizing their extensive grassroots support bases, stating that both the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements are driven by a singular, unified desire for a better-governed society.