ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said his decision to nominate former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election was based on their shared commitment to tackling poverty through education, human capital development and economic reforms.
Obi said both leaders share a common philosophy of transformational leadership, insisting that their partnership was founded on a common vision rather than political convenience.
Speaking in an interview published on Sunday, the former Anambra State governor described Kwankwaso as a leader who believes in empowering citizens through education and creating opportunities that can lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
According to him, education remains the most effective tool for rebuilding the country and unlocking its human capital.
“Kwankwaso has the philosophy of pulling people out of poverty. I have the same philosophy. He believes in education because society cannot change without education. Nigeria must invest in developing its human capital, and that is an area where we share the same vision,” Obi said.
The NDC standard-bearer also dismissed speculation of disagreements between him and his running mate, maintaining that there was no crisis within their political alliance.
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He attributed such claims to what he described as the country’s culture of transactional politics, stressing that his administration, if elected, would pursue transformational governance focused on improving citizens’ welfare.
“People ask whether we have differences, but have you ever seen us quarrelling? Nigeria’s problems stem from transactional governance. We are offering transformational governance because we want to build a better society and lift people out of poverty,” he said.
Obi also declined to dwell on why a political alliance between him and Kwankwaso failed to materialise before the 2023 presidential election, saying his attention was fixed on the future.
He argued that leaders must focus on solving present challenges rather than remaining preoccupied with past political events.
Responding to concerns over managing supporters of both the Obidient Movement and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Obi expressed confidence that both groups were united by a common desire to see Nigeria transformed.
He said the movements were driven by citizens seeking good governance, improved education, economic opportunities and a better future for the country.
Obi and Kwankwaso, who contested separately in the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, respectively, later teamed up after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to form the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general election, Punch reports.