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Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has dismissed the prospects of a Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, declaring that such an alliance would fail to gain support in Kano State.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the former Kano State governor said the proposed ticket, expected to run on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), lacked the political strength, leadership credentials and governance record required to secure victory in the state.
“I don’t think Peter Obi and Kwankwaso’s ticket will succeed in Kano. It will not succeed. In fact, it is dead on arrival,” Ganduje said.
Questioning Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State, Ganduje argued that the former Labour Party presidential candidate had not demonstrated the level of governance experience needed to lead Nigeria.
“Because Peter Obi was a governor in the South-East geopolitical zone, a governor in Anambra State. What did he do as a governor? What legacy did he leave as a governor?” he asked.
“And from that, what other responsibility in governance did he hold that he made a mark to the extent that we believe he will be able to manage this country effectively and efficiently?”
Ganduje also criticised the political record of former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, noting that unlike other governors in the state, he failed to secure two consecutive terms in office.
“Kwankwaso too, he was a governor of Kano State. He was not able to be a governor back-to-back,” Ganduje said.
“So far, the two other governors in Kano were able to win elections back-to-back. Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau was able to spend eight years straight. Myself, I was able to spend eight years straight.
“But he was not able, after the first term, he was not able to make it until after eight years, then he was able to come back.”
The former APC chairman further argued that Kwankwaso had not built a legacy strong enough to convince Kano residents or Nigerians that he was fit to serve as the country’s vice-president.
“So I don’t think, even in Kano, what legacy specifically can you say that he has left in Kano that will convince the people of Kano, will convince the people of Nigeria that he will be a successful vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?” he said.
Ganduje maintained that the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance lacked the political appeal to challenge effectively in Kano, insisting, “I think that, as I earlier said, is dead on arrival.”
