The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially unveiled Peter Obi as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, amid strong indications that former Kano State governor Musa Kwankwaso could emerge as his running mate.
The announcement was made through the party’s official social media channels just days after Obi and Kwankwaso formally aligned with the opposition coalition ahead of the next election cycle.
Speaking during an interview on Premier Radio over the weekend, Kwankwaso expressed optimism about securing the vice-presidential position on the party’s ticket, saying the move could eventually position Kano State to produce a Nigerian president in the future.
“By God’s grace, the next election will be unlike anything our state and country have witnessed, especially if my name appears on the ballot,” Kwankwaso said.
He noted that since the First Republic, Kano State has never produced a vice president, describing the situation as unfortunate but one he believes could soon change.
“Kano State will rightfully secure this opportunity, and it will pave the way for our state to eventually produce the president of this country,” he added.
Kwankwaso also stated that the movement being built by the party was attracting support across regional lines.
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“Southerners who understand what is happening are already joining our party. The North, especially the North-West, must act wisely and avoid decisions they may later regret,” he said.
Sources familiar with the arrangement revealed that Obi and Kwankwaso joined the NDC earlier this month with an understanding to contest the 2027 presidential election on a joint ticket, with Obi as presidential candidate and Kwankwaso as vice-presidential candidate.
The development is expected to significantly influence political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly amid ongoing debates surrounding Nigeria’s informal power-sharing arrangement between the North and the South.
Several political stakeholders have argued that the presidency should remain in the South until 2031, completing what they consider the region’s expected eight-year tenure following the election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.
Kwankwaso’s recent comments have also fueled speculation that if Obi wins the presidency in 2027 and serves two terms, the former Kano governor could emerge as a leading northern contender for the presidency in 2031.
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