Isaac Samuel
The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2023 general election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has criticised former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, over his claim that Northern voters would not support Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election.
Kwankwaso, in a statement on Tuesday, expressed disappointment over Sheriff’s recent interview on Channels Television, saying the former governor’s comments did not reflect the realities of Northern politics.
His response followed comments by Sheriff during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, where the former Borno State governor said Northerners would not vote for Obi in the 2027 presidential election.
He alleged that Obi’s tenure as Anambra governor had alienated many Northerners and also claimed supporters of Kwankwaso in Kano were opposed to any alliance involving the former Labour Party presidential candidate.
Sheriff also maintained that the presidency should remain in the South until 2031 in line with Nigeria’s power-sharing arrangement.
But Kwankwaso faulted Sheriff for claiming that Obi could not command sizeable support in the North, arguing that the former Labour Party presidential candidate had already demonstrated electoral strength in the region during the 2023 election.
According to Kwankwaso, Obi secured about 2.8 million votes across Northern Nigeria in his first presidential contest, a performance he described as significant and one that should not be dismissed.
He argued that prevailing economic hardship, growing dissatisfaction with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the prospect of a joint ticket with a prominent Northern political figure would make the proposed “OK ticket” a formidable force in the region.
Kwankwaso also rejected Sheriff’s assertion that voters in Kano State would not support Obi, insisting that the people of the state were neither bigoted nor xenophobic.
He said Kano voters had consistently shown confidence in the Kwankwasiyya movement and would support any credible presidential ticket presented under its platform.
His words: “I watched with disappointment the recent interview granted by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to Channels Television on Monday.
“After a prolonged absence from public discourse, one would have expected that time away might have sharpened Senator Sheriff’s judgment. Regrettably, that does not appear to be the case.
“In the interview, the former governor claimed that Peter Obi cannot command sizeable support in Northern Nigeria. It is curious that he has appointed himself spokesperson for the Northern masses. For the record, in his first outing on the presidential ballot, Mr. Obi secured approximately 2.8 million votes in the region — a remarkable achievement that cannot be dismissed lightly.
“Given the current national hardships, the widespread consensus on the failure of the APC administration, and the addition of a strong Northern figure to the ticket who previously garnered 1.45 million votes in the region, the OK ticket remains a formidable force in Northern politics.
“Even more surprising was Senator Sheriff’s assertion that the people of Kano would not vote for Mr. Obi. Let me state clearly: the good people of Kano are neither bigoted nor xenophobic. They have consistently demonstrated strong trust in the Kwankwasiyya movement and will support any credible ticket presented under its banner
“I respectfully advise Senator Sheriff that, in future national television appearances, he would do better to speak to the serious insecurity and humanitarian challenges facing his home state, rather than making divisive and poorly considered remarks,” Kwankwaso said.
He maintained that the proposed “OK ticket” represents the best opportunity for Nigerians to reset the country and place it on the path of competence, unity and progress.
