Vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has rejected claims by former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff that Peter Obi lacks meaningful political support in Northern Nigeria.
In a statement shared on his official page on July 7, 2026, Kwankwaso responded to comments Sheriff made during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where the APC chieftain argued that Northerners would not vote for the former Labour Party presidential candidate.
Kwankwaso described the claim as inaccurate, insisting that the voting pattern in the 2023 presidential election showed Obi enjoyed considerable support across the region.
“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,” he said.
The former Kano State governor also argued that the political landscape has shifted since the last general election. According to him, growing public dissatisfaction with the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, combined with what he described as the strength of the “OK” presidential ticket, has positioned the alliance as a formidable political force ahead of 2027.
Responding to Sherman’s remarks about Kano politics, Kwankwaso dismissed suggestions that voters in the state would reject Peter Obi because of regional or ethnic considerations.
“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,” he stated.
Kwankwaso also urged Sheriff to focus on the security and humanitarian challenges confronting Borno State instead of making what he described as divisive political statements.
He added that the “OK” ticket offers Nigerians an opportunity to embrace competence, national unity and progress. His remarks come amid growing political consultations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with major political figures positioning themselves for the next presidential contest.
