Kwankwaso denies pact with Atiku, Obi for 2027 Presidency

Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, has dismissed rumors of an agreement regarding a rotational presidency with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Kwankwaso made the clarification in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, broadcast on Monday in Abuja, where he stated that he has had no recent discussions or contact with either politician.

The former governor of Kano State explained that he has remained politically neutral, choosing to focus on governance without engaging in any political pacts until the end of the year.

He criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for attempting to manipulate northern voters in future elections.

“There is no political arrangement that will be acceptable to me unless we first look at the history,” Kwankwaso remarked. “The PDP has been trying to manipulate the North, but we must ask: what have they done for the region?”

He recounted how many prominent leaders, including himself, Peter Obi, and Nyesom Wike, were forced to leave the PDP due to internal party issues.

He expressed frustration over the PDP’s recent attempts to regain political influence, especially after their past treatment of northern leaders.

Kwankwaso also addressed rumors that the PDP had brought in scholars to claim there was an agreement for a rotational presidency, with Atiku serving for four years, himself for another four, and Obi for eight years.

He called the claim “a complete lie” with no factual basis, expressing disappointment that such falsehoods were being spread by elder statesmen.

He concluded by saying that deceitful actions like these contributed to his departure from the PDP and destabilized the party.