Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 presidential election, has argued that Peter Obi is already a well-known political figure in Northern Nigeria, pointing to his performance in the 2023 presidential election as evidence of his acceptance in the region.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Kwankwaso responded to claims that Obi lacks recognition or support in Northern Nigeria. He said Obi had previously contested as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate before emerging as a presidential candidate on his own, giving northern voters ample opportunity to assess his leadership.
According to Kwankwaso, Obi’s electoral performance in 2023 demonstrated that he has an established political presence in the North.
“Peter Obi is not a new person in terms of running an election here in Northern Nigeria. He ran together with Atiku Abubakar, and we have seen what they got. In the last election, he contested on his own and got over two million votes in Northern Nigeria.”
Kwankwaso maintained that Obi’s vote tally contradicts suggestions that he is unfamiliar to northern voters. He also expressed confidence that political dynamics ahead of the 2027 general election could change further, noting that many younger voters are increasingly focused on issues such as governance, security, and economic opportunities.
He concluded by saying that Northern Nigerian voters are capable of making independent political decisions and cautioned against drawing conclusions based on isolated political claims, urging observers to watch how events unfold ahead of the 2027 elections.
