Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has firmly rejected claims that he is working for President Bola Tinubu. The allegations concern the upcoming 2027 presidential election. Kwankwaso stated these claims are entirely false. He added that similar rumours have circulated since his time in the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
Kwankwaso made these remarks on Wednesday night. He spoke during an interview with Global TV.
Dismissing the Allegations
The former governor was responding to accusations from Sanusi Bature. Bature serves as the spokesperson for Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf. He had alleged that Kwankwaso was indirectly campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election.
Kwankwaso strongly denied this. He asserted that his political commitment lies with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
“I think only foolish people would believe that,” Kwankwaso stated. “We are not working for anybody. We are only working for NDC.”
He acknowledged his relationship with the President. “Bola Tinubu has been my senior brother and good friend up till now,” Kwankwaso explained. “But that doesn’t mean we will merge all our political ideologies with him. He is pursuing his own agenda, and I am pursuing mine.”
Earlier, Bature had alleged that Kwankwaso supported Tinubu in 2023. He also claimed Kwankwaso recently sought a direct meeting with the President, which did not happen.
Critique of Presidential Advisers
Kwankwaso, a former Minister of Defence, shared his perspective on the nation’s leadership. He belongs to a different political party. Yet, he believes the President may not fully grasp the country’s true situation. This is because his close advisors might not be transparent with him.
“Normally, under current circumstances, the President may not see what is truly happening,” he noted. “Unfortunately, most of the people around him are actually causing the problems.”
He continued, “In such a situation, it is difficult to find someone to advise him honestly. They may not tell him the obvious truth. Their usual focus is on gaining governors. I think, going by the number of governors now, the APC is number one.”
Support for Peter Obi and NDC Strategy
Kwankwaso also clarified why his camp decided to back Peter Obi. Obi is the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate. This support is within the framework of the NDC.
Kwankwaso and Obi joined the NDC on May 3. Since then, discussions have continued regarding a possible joint presidential ticket.
“When we joined the NDC, we invited all our leaders,” Kwankwaso explained. “They came from the six geopolitical zones. We sat down and reviewed the national situation. We then decided to unite and work as one family.”
He added, “The party, in its wisdom, decided to zone the presidential ticket to the South. We assessed candidates across the zones. We concluded that Peter Obi is the best candidate. That was our judgment at that specific time.”
Mobilising Support in the North
Kwankwaso was asked about his popularity in the North. He was also asked how he would help Obi secure votes in the North-East and North-West. Kwankwaso responded that the coalition has ample time to persuade Nigerians before the election.
“I cannot begin to tell our viewers that I am popular,” Kwankwaso stated. “I believe it is up to the public to decide that. We are simply in the field, working diligently.”
He elaborated on their efforts. “We are striving to convince the people. This includes those who spread falsehoods. They try to exploit our nation’s differences. These differences should actually be our strength. We are working on that aspect.”
Kwankwaso expressed optimism about the timeline. “I am happy to say we are very fortunate. We have about eight months from now until January 16, 2027. This is sufficient time.”
He concluded, “Those who are telling lies, their untruths will be exposed. People will also identify those who are truthful and serious about their commitments.”
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