‘Dead on Arrival’: Ganduje Predicts Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket Will Fail in Kano

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has dismissed the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), declaring that the alliance will fail to gain traction in Kano State in the 2027 general election.

Ganduje, who is also a former governor of Kano State, said the ticket lacked the political appeal and governance record required to secure the support of voters in the state.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, he described the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket as politically unviable in Kano.

“I don’t think Peter Obi and Kwankwaso’s ticket will succeed in Kano. It will not succeed. In fact, it is dead on arrival,” Ganduje said.

The former APC chairman also questioned Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State, challenging supporters of the former governor to identify what he described as significant legacies from his tenure that would demonstrate his capacity to lead the country.

“Because Peter Obi was a governor in the South-East geopolitical zone, a governor in Anambra State. What did he do as a governor? What legacy did he leave as a governor?” he asked.

Ganduje further questioned whether Obi had accumulated sufficient experience in governance after leaving office as governor to convince Nigerians that he could effectively manage the affairs of the country.

“And from that, what other responsibility in governance did he hold that he made a mark to the extent that we believe he will be able to manage this country effectively and efficiently?”

He also turned his criticism to Kwankwaso, who served as governor of Kano State, arguing that the former governor's political record did not match that of other former leaders of the state who secured two consecutive terms.

“Kwankwaso too, he was a governor of Kano State. He was not able to be a governor back-to-back,” Ganduje said.

He cited former governor Ibrahim Shekarau and himself as examples of Kano governors who successfully completed two consecutive terms in office.

“So far, the two other governors in Kano were able to win elections back-to-back. Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau was able to spend eight years straight. Myself, I was able to spend eight years straight.”

Ganduje further argued that Kwankwaso's record in Kano did not, in his assessment, provide sufficient evidence to persuade voters that he would perform effectively as vice-president of Nigeria.

“So I don’t think, even in Kano, what legacy specifically can you say that he has left in Kano that will convince the people of Kano, will convince the people of Nigeria that he will be a successful vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?” he said.

The comments come as political parties and emerging alliances intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with Kano expected to remain a key battleground because of its large voting population and historical influence on national electoral outcomes.

The Obi-Kwankwaso alliance is expected to attract significant attention in the North and South-East, particularly as the NDC seeks to challenge the established political blocs ahead of the election.

Ganduje's comments, however, highlight the political contest over Kano, where the strength of local structures, the influence of political movements and the personal followings of major candidates are likely to shape the outcome of the 2027 presidential race.

His remarks also reflect the growing effort by rival political camps to question the credentials, track records and electoral strength of emerging presidential alliances as the country moves closer to the next general election.