A political analyst, Hassan Ibrahim, has said that former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stands to gain more politically from joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He described the move as a strategic advantage regardless of
the outcome of future elections.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on
Tuesday, Ibrahim said Kwankwaso’s decision to align with the new political
platform places him in a stronger position ahead of the 2027 general elections,
whether the alliance succeeds or not.
“For me, Kwankwaso joining the NDC is a right move and I see
him as the biggest beneficiary. Whether they succeed in the presidential
election or not, he still gains politically.”
The analyst recalled that during negotiations with the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Kwankwaso made it clear that he would only abandon
his former party, the NNPP, if he was given either the presidential ticket or
the vice-presidential slot.
He said this demand was one of the reasons talks with the
APC failed.
“Kwankwaso said clearly that if he must leave his party, he
must either be made the presidential candidate or the running mate,” he
explained.
Ibrahim noted that in the ADC, Kwankwaso finds himself among
other strong political figures such as former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar
and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, making competition
for the presidential ticket tougher.
He said Atiku is still interested in running for president,
while Obi remains a strong contender after securing over six million votes in
the last election.
He also mentioned Rotimi Amaechi as another key figure
seeking the ticket.
“With people like Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi in the same
platform, Kwankwaso’s chances of getting the presidential ticket are lower
compared to others,” he said.
The analyst explained that because Atiku and Kwankwaso are
both from northern Nigeria, they are unlikely to be paired together on the same
ticket, which limits Kwankwaso’s chances of becoming a running mate if Atiku
emerges.
He added that Kwankwaso would only have a realistic chance
of becoming vice president if the presidential ticket goes to someone from the
South, such as Peter Obi or Rotimi Amaechi.
Ibrahim also raised concerns about leadership issues within
the ADC.
He said the party is facing court cases challenging its
structure and legitimacy.
“Both Kwankwaso and Obi are not fully confident about the
ongoing court cases. So they are already thinking of a second option in case
things don’t go well.”
According to him, Kwankwaso’s move to the NDC gives him
access to a platform that is more stable and gives him better control over
candidate selection for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, and
state assemblies.
He contrasted Kwankwaso with Atiku, saying Kwankwaso has a
strong political movement with loyal supporters who depend on him for political
direction, unlike Atiku, who mainly seeks a platform for his own presidential
ambition.
He also noted that Kwankwaso’s influence in Kano has been
affected following the exit of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from his camp, making
the need for a broader political platform more important.
“His chances of getting the presidential ticket in the
previous arrangement were almost zero, and even the vice-presidential slot was
not guaranteed,” he said.
“But now that he has left the ADC and joined the NDC, he has
every opportunity, he has every chance to get a position, either as a flag
bearer, or as a running mate.”
He further argued that if the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance
succeeds, Kwankwaso could become Vice President and later position himself for
the presidency in the future.
“If Obi steps aside after eight years, Kwankwaso as Vice
President can contest and become President,” he said.
Even if the alliance fails, Ibrahim said Kwankwaso would
still benefit by gaining national visibility beyond his traditional northern
base.
“Many people see him as a regional politician, but this move
gives him national exposure,” he said.
He added that aligning with Obi would also help Kwankwaso
appeal more to southern voters and reduce perceptions of ethnic or regional
bias.
“He will be able to tell voters in the South that he has
worked with a southerner and is not a tribal politician,” he said.
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