Kwankwaso Regrets 2023 Split with Peter Obi
Rabiu Kwankwaso admits a united ticket could have defeated the ruling party in 2023.
1Admission of Strategic Error
Rabiu Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, publicly expressed regret for not forming an alliance with Peter Obi during the 2023 general election. Speaking in Dutse, Jigawa State, he acknowledged that a united opposition front would have significantly improved their chances of unseating the All Progressives Congress.
2The 2023 Electoral Landscape
In the February 2023 presidential race, the opposition was split between multiple candidates, facilitating Bola Tinubu’s victory with 8,794,726 votes. Peter Obi, running under the Labour Party, secured 6,101,533 votes, while Kwankwaso, representing the New Nigeria Peoples Party, garnered 1,496,687 votes. Their combined total would have reached approximately 7.6 million votes.
3Regional Voting Patterns
Kwankwaso’s electoral support in 2023 remained heavily concentrated in the North-west, with nearly two-thirds of his total national votes coming from Kano State. Conversely, Peter Obi disrupted traditional voting patterns by winning across the South-east, South-south, and key urban centers like Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
4Past Political Hurdles
Before the 2023 election, Kwankwaso had declined a partnership with Obi, citing his own superior political experience and higher academic credentials, including a PhD. This refusal to collaborate was a defining moment that kept the opposition divided, ultimately allowing the ruling party to maintain its hold on the national presidency.
5New Alliance for 2027
Looking toward the 2027 election, the two leaders have formed the Nigeria Democratic Congress to challenge the status quo. Kwankwaso stated that this partnership represents a turning point for national development, emphasizing that their combined political machinery is now focused on a unified strategy to secure victory in the next cycle.
6Proposed Educational Reforms
Kwankwaso disclosed an agreement to lead the Ministry of Education if the NDC ticket succeeds. He plans to implement a blueprint modeled after his tenure as Kano State governor, which involved sponsoring over 3,000 indigenes on foreign scholarships. He claims these initiatives were funded by curbing corruption rather than taking loans.
7Focus on Public Interest
The proposed administration aims to renovate public schools, recruit trained teachers, and provide modern instructional materials for underprivileged children. Kwankwaso criticized the current administrations in Kano and Jigawa states, alleging they have deviated from public-interest governance and urging voters to support the NDC to secure the zone's first vice presidency.
8Significance of the Shift
This reconciliation marks a major shift in Nigerian opposition politics, moving from fragmented regional bases toward a centralized national coalition. By aligning their distinct voter demographics, Obi and Kwankwaso are attempting to overcome the structural advantages of the ruling party, signaling a more competitive and polarized environment for the 2027 elections.
Original article: Premium Times Nigeria — Kwankwaso Regrets 2023 Split with Peter Obi