The Vice Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has launched a blistering attack on former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, accusing him of making false and divisive claims about the political strength of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Northern Nigeria.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Tuesday, Kwankwaso dismissed Sheriff’s comments during a Channels Television interview, insisting that the former governor deliberately misrepresented Obi’s acceptance across the North while ignoring the country’s pressing security and humanitarian crises.
“I watched with disappointment the recent interview granted by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to Channels Television on Monday,” Kwankwaso wrote.
The former Kano State governor said he had expected Sheriff to return to public discourse with greater political maturity after his long absence but was instead confronted with what he described as poor judgment.
“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 faulted Sheriff’s assertion that Peter Obi lacked significant support in Northern Nigeria, insisting that the claim flies in the face of electoral facts.
“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 pointed out that Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election already proved his growing acceptance 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.”
According to Kwankwaso, the NDC’s Obi-Kwankwaso ticket remains one of the strongest political forces ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly in view of widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration.
“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.”
Kwankwaso also rejected Sheriff’s claim that Kano voters would not support Obi, describing the people of the state as politically enlightened and free from ethnic or religious prejudice.
“Even more surprising was Senator Sheriff’s assertion that the people of Kano would not vote for Mr. Obi. 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 urged the former governor to devote his public engagements to addressing the security challenges confronting Borno State instead of making what he described as divisive political statements.
“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.”
Reaffirming confidence in the NDC presidential ticket, Kwankwaso maintained that Nigerians are looking for competent leadership capable of rescuing the country from its current challenges.
“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.”
