The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has explained the reasoning behind choosing former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election. In an interview, Obi stated that the decision was based on their shared commitment to reducing poverty through education and economic development.
According to Obi, Kwankwaso shares his vision of building a better Nigeria by investing in education and developing the country’s human capital. Obi noted that Kwankwaso has a philosophy of pulling people out of poverty, which aligns with his own philosophy. He also emphasized the importance of education, stating that it is a crucial factor in changing society.
Obi added that education would be a major priority of his administration, as it is key to national development. He also dismissed reports of a disagreement between him and Kwankwaso, saying they remain united ahead of the January 2027 general election. When asked about the reports, Obi questioned the notion of differences between people working together, asking if anyone had ever seen them quarreling.
Obi’s focus, he said, is on transformational leadership rather than politics driven by personal interests. He criticized the current state of governance, saying that the country is in a mess due to transactional governance. Obi emphasized that he is not interested in transactional government, but rather in transformational governance, which aims to change society and pull people out of poverty.
Obi and Kwankwaso previously finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 2023 presidential election, with Obi contesting on the platform of the Labour Party and Kwankwaso as the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party. The two politicians later joined the African Democratic Congress alliance in 2026 before defecting to the NDC, citing internal crises and legal disputes.
When asked why they did not form an alliance before the 2023 election, Obi said he preferred to focus on the future, stating that those who think about yesterday and today will miss tomorrow. He emphasized that the past is gone and that they are talking about the present. On how he plans to manage supporters of both the Obidient Movement and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Obi said both groups share the same goal of building a better Nigeria.
Obi stated that they have no problem whatsoever, as they want to change society, and their followers want a changed and better society. He expressed confidence in their ability to work together towards a common goal, which is to build a better Nigeria for all citizens.
