2027: Kwankwaso’s Offer To Be Obi’s Running Mate A Welcome Development – LP

On Sunday, the Labour Party expressed its approval of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s offer to be the running mate for Peter Obi, the LP’s candidate in the upcoming 2027 presidential election. Kwankwaso, who was the presidential candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party in the 2023 elections, recently shared a video indicating his willingness to partner with Obi, despite previous failed merger talks between their parties.

The PUNCH reported that discussions of a merger between the LP and NNPP prior to the 2023 elections fell apart due to neither Obi nor Kwankwaso being willing to compromise on leadership roles. In a video message, Kwankwaso, who is a former governor of Kano State, stated that he would consider being Obi’s deputy if certain conditions were met.

Kwankwaso, who believes he has a stronger political standing than Obi, remarked, “I’m politically more significant than Peter Obi; I’m his senior, I hold a PhD, and I had a better performance as governor. I have no issue with being his deputy, but only under specific conditions.”

He also mentioned the potential for constructive dialogue with Obi, emphasizing the need for trust. In the last election, Obi finished in third place with around 6.1 million votes, while Kwankwaso came in fourth with about 1.5 million votes.

Kwankwaso has been critical of the current Nigerian government led by Bola Tinubu, particularly regarding its economic policies that have caused hardship for many citizens. In an exclusive interview, LP’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk, welcomed Kwankwaso’s renewed interest in collaboration but urged him not to undermine the merger discussions by claiming superiority in political experience or education.

Farouk stated, “As a political party, we advocate for good governance and allow our candidates to choose their associations with like-minded individuals who align with the Labour Party’s philosophy. We are pleased that Kwankwaso has stepped down from his previous stance and is now willing to support Obi as a deputy, especially after seeing that he only received less than two million votes despite his claimed popularity in the North.”