Kwankwaso criticizes governors for backing Tinubu in 2027 elections

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has taken aim at 31 Nigerian governors for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election instead of focusing on their states.

Kwankwaso, who was once the governor of Kano State, shared his views on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday night.

Reports show that at least 31 governors have publicly supported Mr. Tinubu’s re-election for 2027 under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Some of these governors, like Ademola Adeleke from Osun State and Charles Soludo from Anambra, are not even members of the APC.

On the Channels TV program, Kwankwaso claimed that the governors and Tinubu are joining forces for the 2027 elections because they doubt their ability to win on their own.

“I think a lot of mistakes were being made by the governors to the extent that they themselves believe that they are not competent enough to win elections on their own.

“Therefore, they had to lean towards the president. And I believe the president also believes that he can’t do it himself. He has to lean towards the governors,” he said.

Kwankwaso expressed confidence that the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is quite popular in Southern Nigeria as the 2027 elections approach.

He added that the NDC has made significant strides in northern Nigeria and now has a strong team. Many Nigerians looking for solutions to the country’s problems are aligning with the party.

The former governor thinks the NDC’s rising popularity worries the governors who are supporting Tinubu’s re-election.

“I believe that there is no governor who is not concerned about the popularity of our candidate, the ticket itself, and of course our party.

“So I personally believe that the governors don’t understand the dynamics now. But I believe that on election day, they will realise that the APC has made very serious mistakes over the years,” he said.

Kwankwaso also pointed out that Tinubu and the APC are losing popularity due to increasing hardship and insecurity across Nigeria.

“The issue of security, especially in northern Nigeria. The issue of poverty, everybody is very much aware of it.

“You can see that the major issues in this country are not being addressed,” he said.

He added, “People are in a very difficult situation today. Many of them have left their villages and towns and have been away for many years now.

“But I can tell you, outside here, and even here in Abuja, people are very angry. And people are looking for a way out.”

The NDC vice-presidential candidate then raised concerns that the ruling APC might attempt to rig the 2027 election.

“Normally, as politicians, if they (APC) realise that they are not popular and that they are not being loved by their people, the tendency is for them to start thinking of ways and manners to rig the elections.

“And we have heard many of them, especially the people around them, that as usual, they are boasting that even if they get 1,000, they will write the result for themselves,” he said.