Ex-Kano governor rejects 2027 alliance rumours, backs Peter Obi as NDC’s best southern candidate and warns of misinformation around the presidency.

Former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has strongly dismissed allegations linking him to President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, describing the claims as baseless and misleading.

Speaking during a Wednesday night interview on Global TV, Kwankwaso said suggestions that he is secretly working for Tinubu are not only false but illogical.

“Only foolish people would believe that,” he said bluntly. “We are not working for anybody. We are only committed to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).”

Kwankwaso noted that while he maintains a longstanding personal relationship with Tinubu, it does not translate into any political alignment.

“He has been my senior brother and good friend, but that doesn’t mean we will merge our political ideologies. He is doing his own, and I am doing mine,” he added.

The former Defence Minister was responding to allegations by Sanusi Bature, spokesperson to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, who claimed Kwankwaso had quietly supported Tinubu in 2023 and recently sought a meeting with the president.

Addressing the broader political climate, Kwankwaso suggested that President Tinubu may not be getting an accurate picture of the country’s realities due to the influence of those around him.

“Under the current circumstances, the president may not see what is truly happening. Unfortunately, many of those around him are part of the problem and may not be telling him the truth,” he said.

He also criticized what he described as a growing political strategy of consolidating power through governors, noting the ruling APC’s dominance in that regard.

On the emerging coalition under the NDC, Kwankwaso explained why his camp threw its weight behind former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to him, after wide consultations across the six geopolitical zones, the party resolved to zone its presidential ticket to the South and identified Obi as the most suitable candidate.

“We sat down with our leaders and assessed the situation. The party zoned the ticket to the South, and we concluded that Peter Obi was the best candidate at that time,” he said.

Kwankwaso expressed confidence that the NDC coalition has enough time to build nationwide support ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly in the North.

“We are working hard to convince Nigerians and counter false narratives. From now till January 2027, we have enough time. The truth will prevail, and people will know those who are serious,” he said.