FORMER National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has said a presidential ticket pairing Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) would not succeed in Kano State in the 2027 general election.
News Point Nigeria reports that Ganduje, who is also a former governor of Kano State, stated this while speaking with journalists on Tuesday, arguing that the proposed ticket lacks the political strength, acceptance and governance record required to secure support from voters in the state.
“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,” he said.
The former APC chairman questioned the record of Obi during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, arguing that his performance in office did not demonstrate the level of experience required to lead 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?” Ganduje asked.
“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?”
Ganduje also criticised the political record of Kwankwaso, another former governor of Kano State, noting that he was unable to secure two consecutive terms in office.
“Kwankwaso too, he was a governor of Kano State. He was not able to be a governor back-to-back,” he said.
The former governor compared Kwankwaso’s record with those of other former Kano governors, insisting that they achieved consecutive electoral victories.
“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.
“But he was not able, after the first term, he was not able to make it until after eight years, then he was able to come back,” Ganduje said.
He argued that Kwankwaso had not left behind a legacy strong enough to convince Kano voters and Nigerians generally that he could effectively serve as vice-president of the country.
“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?” he said.
Ganduje maintained that the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso ticket would struggle to gain traction in Kano, reiterating his position that the alliance was “dead on arrival.”