As political realignments gather pace ahead of the next general election, the 2027 Kwankwaso Obi alliance has come into focus after Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso rejected claims by former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff that Peter Obi lacks significant political support in Northern Nigeria — FirstNigerian.com reports.
In a statement posted on his official page on Tuesday, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate said Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election demonstrated that he had established a substantial political base across the region.
His response followed comments by Sheriff during an interview on Channels Television, in which the former governor argued that the North would not support Obi in the next presidential election.
Kwankwaso said Obi secured about 2.8 million votes across Northern Nigeria in his first presidential bid, describing the result as evidence that the former Anambra State governor enjoys considerable backing in the region.
He also argued that changing political dynamics, including growing dissatisfaction with the current administration and the emergence of the “OK” presidential ticket, had strengthened the alliance’s prospects ahead of the 2027 polls.
2027 Kwankwaso Obi Alliance Targets Northern Votes
Northern Nigeria is widely regarded as a key electoral battleground because of its large voting population, making support in the region critical for any presidential candidate seeking victory.
Responding to Sheriff’s claim that Kano voters would not support Obi, Kwankwaso said the state’s electorate had consistently backed candidates endorsed by the Kwankwasiyya movement.
“The good people of Kano are neither bigoted nor xenophobic. They have consistently demonstrated strong trust in the Kwankwasiyya movement and will support any credible ticket presented under its banner,” he said.
Kwankwaso also urged Sheriff to focus on the security and humanitarian challenges facing Borno State rather than making what he described as divisive political remarks.
Sheriff has previously maintained that Obi would struggle to secure widespread support in Northern Nigeria, making the exchange one of the latest public disagreements over political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
