An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Goriola Yakub, has warned that Rabiu Kwankwaso’s decision to become Peter Obi’s running mate could damage his ambition to become Nigeria’s president in 2031.
Yakub described the decision as a potentially serious political mistake, arguing that Kwankwaso’s alignment with Obi could weaken his prospects of building a stronger platform for a future presidential bid.
Speaking during an interview with Trust TV, the APC chieftain recalled that Kwankwaso had taken a different position ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
According to Yakub, Kwankwaso had previously explained why he could not serve as Obi’s running mate, insisting that his political objective was either to lead a presidential ticket or serve as vice president.
Yakub said Kwankwaso’s latest decision could ultimately work against him if he intends to pursue the presidency again in 2031.
He also questioned the ability of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket to make significant gains across Northern Nigeria, where Kwankwaso has historically maintained a strong political base.
“Kwankwaso knows Peter Obi and there is no pathway for Obi in the North,” Yakub said.
He argued that Kwankwaso would face a difficult task convincing voters in the region to support Obi, particularly because Kwankwaso himself could not secure the entire North during his previous presidential campaign.
“If Kwankwaso was at the top of a ticket and he could not deliver the North to himself, how would he deliver the North to Peter Obi?” he questioned.
Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Democratic Party (NNPP), recently moved to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he emerged as Obi’s running mate.
The alliance has become one of the major developments in Nigeria’s opposition politics as opposition figures attempt to build a formidable coalition ahead of the country’s next presidential election.
The partnership could give the opposition ticket greater reach by combining Obi’s support in parts of southern Nigeria with Kwankwaso’s political influence in the North.
However, Yakub believes the arrangement could create a difficult political calculation for Kwankwaso, especially if he hopes to remain a major contender for the presidency in 2031.
His warning adds another layer to the debate over whether the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance can successfully challenge the ruling APC while also protecting the individual political ambitions of both men.
