Sanusi Bature, spokesperson to the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has categorically stated that the Peter Obi/Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election cannot work, saying that the two figures hold different political views, news.ng reports.
Bature made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday morning.
Bature explained that Kwankwaso left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) after sensing that the party was becoming irrelevant in Nigeria’s political space.
According to him, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was their first point of call, but Kwankwaso did not visit the president as agreed after his trip from China, for reasons best known to him.
He added that, based on the arrangement made by the state governor and Kwankwaso, the two political figures in Kano were supposed to defect to the APC together, but it was only the governor who made the move.
He said, “Initially, in January, we defected out of NNPP, not Kwankwasiya, as we mentioned it earlier. And then the ideology of Kwankwasiya have been what we adopted as a system of governance in Kano State, because Kwankwaso was a pillar, was one of the major stakeholders that actually worked for the present administration. But, you know, in politics, you need to understand the context.
“Why I say this is that we are fully aware and everybody knows that NNPP is no longer a formidable platform for 2027 election. So therefore, there was an agreement between the critical stakeholders, including Senator Kwankwaso himself, that we should find a lasting solution against 2027 because NNPP cannot fly. So, with that consent, with the consent of Kwankwaso, with the consent of the former deputy governor, Comrade Aminu Abdusalam, they decided with the governor also to approach Tinubu as the first option, as option A, so that the, the possibility of joining APC can come to play.
“So, when the governor approached President Tinubu, they started to discuss all these issues and what have you. Then Kwankwaso was beginning to run away from that discussion. And then at a later time, he made himself clear that he needs to speak to the president directly one on one because president is his friend.
“So, the governor went to the president and tell him that, “My boss want to speak to you directly on the issue of defection to APC.” So, President Tinubu agreed to that. He fixed an appointment for Senator Kwankwaso, and then the day that he’s supposed to be in the Villa he traveled to China. He mentioned to the Villa guys that when he comes back from China, he will inform them. Up till now he didn’t inform the Villa that he’s back from China. So, he maneuvered his way to actually recuse himself from the discussion of going to APC for a reason best known to him.”
On the recent developments involving the partnership between Obi and Kwankwaso, the Kano State governor’s spokesperson noted that it was strange to hear that the individuals were in the same party to secure the party’s ticket for 2027, adding that the partnership is temporary.
He added: “For us, when you say Obi in Kano, it’s actually a strange news, and many people are even surprised that the same Kwankwaso who said he has PhD, Obi has just an undergraduate degree. The same Kwankwaso who said he is more experienced politically and otherwise than Obi.
“The same Kwankwaso who has seen Obi as just a Biafra agent is now craving for him to be the vice president to Obi. So, it’s a surprise, and then Kano cannot accept this partnership because it’s, it’s not really the Kwankwaso we know. Because we know the Kwankwaso is straightforward person, and he’s a kind of person that actually want to really contribute to the development of the country.
“But this partnership, I believe, is just temporary, and I don’t even think Kwankwaso Obi ticket can work. Because I know the two of them have a different opinion, different political view. So, I don’t see people with a different political view can actually connect under one ticket to provide what is needed for, for the country.”
Watch the clip
