Kwankwaso Faults Sheriff Over Comments on Obi’s Northern Support

By Reporter

Former Kano State Governor and Vice Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has criticised former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, over his remarks questioning the electoral prospects of the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Northern Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kwankwaso described Sheriff’s comments, made during a Channels Television interview on Monday, as disappointing, insisting that Obi had already demonstrated significant electoral strength across the North.

“I watched with disappointment the recent interview granted by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to Channels Television on Monday,” Kwankwaso said.

“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.”

Kwankwaso was reacting to Sheriff’s assertion that Obi could not attract substantial support in Northern Nigeria. He argued that the former governor had no mandate to speak on behalf of Northern voters.

“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,” he stated.

Highlighting Obi’s previous electoral performance, Kwankwaso noted that the former Labour Party presidential candidate secured about 2.8 million votes in the region during the last presidential election.

“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.

Kwankwaso further argued that the country’s current economic challenges and growing dissatisfaction with the APC-led Federal Government had strengthened the prospects of the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance, popularly referred to as the “OK Ticket.”

“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,” he said.

The former Kano governor also dismissed Sheriff’s claim that Kano voters would not support Obi, describing the people of the state as politically mature and open-minded.

“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,” he added.

Kwankwaso advised Sheriff to focus on addressing the security and humanitarian challenges facing Borno State instead of making what he described as divisive political comments.

“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,” he said.

He maintained that the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance offers Nigerians the best chance to reposition the country.

“The OK Ticket currently represents the best opportunity for Nigerians to reset the country and place it on a path of competence, unity and progress,” Kwankwaso stated.