The Labour Party (LP) has embraced the offer made by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, to be the running mate of Peter Obi, LP’s presidential candidate, in the 2027 elections.
Kwankwaso recently made headlines with a viral video expressing his readiness to serve as Obi’s vice-presidential candidate, provided certain conditions are met. This development comes nearly two years after previous talks of a merger between the LP and NNPP ahead of the 2023 elections collapsed, mainly due to a leadership deadlock between Obi and Kwankwaso.
In the video, Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, stated in Hausa, “I’m bigger than Peter Obi politically; I’m his elder brother. I’m a PhD holder and performed better as governor. I have no issue being his deputy, but only if specific conditions are met.” He further expressed a willingness to engage in discussions with Obi, provided trust is restored between the parties.
During the 2023 elections, Peter Obi secured third place with approximately 6.1 million votes, while Kwankwaso trailed in fourth, garnering about 1.5 million votes. Despite this, Kwankwaso remains a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu’s government, particularly regarding its economic policies, which he claims have caused widespread hardship for Nigerians.
Speaking exclusively to The PUNCH, LP’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk, welcomed Kwankwaso’s renewed interest but urged him to abandon the rhetoric of being a superior politician. “We are happy Kwankwaso is now willing to offer himself as Obi’s running mate, after seeing the six million votes Obi garnered. However, he needs to drop this notion of being the ‘bigger politician’ or a PhD holder. What really matters is the will of the people,” Farouk said.
Farouk also emphasized the need for collaboration between like-minded politicians to ensure good governance and defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. “It would be in Nigeria’s best interest if Obi and Kwankwaso unite to wrest power from the APC. However, we understand that the sitting government will not make it easy for this alliance to succeed.”
Meanwhile, Alhaji Ado Garba (Tati), a legislative aide to the Deputy President of the Senate, expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would win the 2027 election in a landslide. Tati highlighted the goodwill enjoyed by the people of Kano through Senator Barau Jibrin’s various initiatives, such as youth and women empowerment programs, scholarships, and road infrastructure. These efforts, he claimed, would guarantee the state’s continued support for Tinubu and the APC.
Despite growing political maneuvering from opposition parties, Tati predicted that Kano State would again rally behind President Tinubu due to the impact of Senator Jibrin’s populist programs and the positive perception of Tinubu’s policies.
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