NEWS
Kwankwaso Rejects North-North 2027 Presidential Ticket, Warns Against Threat to National Unity
Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has firmly dismissed growing speculations surrounding a possible North-North presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing such an arrangement as a direct threat to Nigeria’s unity and democratic balance.
The position, conveyed through his spokesperson, Habibu Saleh, emerged during an exclusive interview, where concerns over political inclusiveness and national cohesion took center stage.
Addressing rumours of a potential alliance between Kwankwaso and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Saleh made it clear that any ticket dominated by candidates from the same region would be both impractical and politically insensitive in Nigeria’s diverse landscape.
“I don’t think that is realistic. We must be sensitive enough to present a ticket that reflects balance between North and South,” he said.
Expanding on this position, Saleh warned that repeating past political configurations that ignore Nigeria’s delicate ethnic and regional balance could deepen divisions across the country.
According to him, the stability of the nation’s democracy depends largely on fairness and equitable representation.
“the same-region or same-religion ticket will only divide the country and hurt democracy. What Nigerians want is fairness and inclusiveness.”
The spokesperson also pushed back strongly against claims attributed to Atiku suggesting that Kwankwaso’s political strength is largely confined to Kano State. He described such assertions as misleading and inconsistent with electoral realities.
“It is a serious understatement for anybody to say that the relevance of my principal is only in Kano. The figures from the last election clearly show otherwise,” Saleh asserted.
He further highlighted Kwankwaso’s performance in the 2023 presidential election as evidence of his nationwide appeal, noting that his support base extended far beyond Kano despite significant structural disadvantages.
“Kwankwaso got about 906,000 votes from Kano, but he also got about 500,000 votes from other parts of the country.
“Remember, he contested on a relatively unknown political platform, without the backing of any incumbent governor, House of Representatives member, or even a councillor,” Saleh said.
Saleh stressed that this performance underscores Kwankwaso’s growing influence across Nigeria, portraying him as a formidable political force capable of mobilizing support beyond regional strongholds. He argued that such momentum reflects a message that resonates with a broader segment of Nigerians seeking alternative leadership options.
With political realignments already taking shape ahead of 2027, Kwankwaso’s rejection of a North-North ticket signals a clear stance on the importance of national balance, setting the tone for what could become a defining debate in the build-up to the next presidential election.