Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), has defended his political relevance beyond Kano State, arguing that his influence spans Northern Nigeria and significantly strengthens his alliance with the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during an interview from 35:10 on Channels Television on Monday, July 20, 2026, Kwankwaso dismissed claims that his political base is limited to Kano, insisting that his popularity extends throughout the North, a region he described as the country’s largest voting bloc.
According to the former Kano State governor, being identified as a Northern politician is a source of pride because of the region’s electoral significance.
In his words, “If anybody calls me Kano and only Kano, I feel very happy because Kano is one state that consists of many states. It’s not one state.”
Kwankwaso explained that Kano’s political influence has historically extended beyond its geographical boundaries, adding that his political network has been built across several states in Northern Nigeria.
He argued that describing him solely as a Kano politician understates the breadth of his political support.
Continuing his remarks, he said, “Now, we are talking of Northern Nigeria. Northern Nigeria has more than 50 percent of the registered voters. So if you call me a northern politician, I’m so happy about it.”
The former governor maintained that the North remains a decisive force in Nigeria’s electoral process because of its large number of registered voters.
He said his support base in the region complements Peter Obi’s popularity in the South-East, making their partnership politically strategic.
According to Kwankwaso, Obi can equally be regarded as a Southern politician because of his strong support in that part of the country.
In his words, “Now by any standard, anybody must call Peter Obi a southern politician.”
Kwankwaso argued that combining his influence in the North with Obi’s support in the South-East creates a formidable political alliance capable of attracting votes across key regions of the country.
Highlighting what he sees as the strength of the ticket, he asked, “So if he is bringing his side and I’m bringing my side, which other side is remaining?”
The former governor suggested that the partnership reflects a deliberate effort to build a broad national coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He maintained that elections in Nigeria are won through widespread support across different regions and expressed confidence that the NDC ticket has the capacity to appeal to voters beyond its traditional strongholds….See More