Former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on Sunday warned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against fielding a northern presidential candidate in 2027, insisting the South should produce Nigeria’s next president.
Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), made the remarks during an interactive session with journalists at his residence in Kano.
He argued that although zoning is not enshrined in the constitution, fairness and political understanding required the North and South to take turns in the presidency to avoid tension and preserve national unity.
“What is happening in the ADC will not help us. Some people want to create confusion by bringing a candidate from the North, knowing fully well that it is still the turn of the South. After Obi presidency, it will return to the North,” Kwankwaso said.
He specifically urged Atiku, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, to shelve his ambition and support Peter Obi.
Kwankwaso said he had set aside his own presidential aspirations to back Obi, whom he described as a credible southern candidate with shared political goals.
“I sacrificed my ambition for Peter Obi because he is credible and from the South. We share common goals and ideology. We are strong and can manage the affairs of this country with ease,” he added.
The NDC chieftain maintained that allowing Obi to lead would uphold the informal power-sharing arrangement before the presidency returns to the North.
