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Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has dismissed allegations suggesting he is secretly working in favour of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, describing the claims as baseless.
Kwankwaso, who spoke in an interview on Global TV on Wednesday night, said the rumours had circulated since his time in the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
The allegations were earlier made by Sanusi Bature, spokesperson to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, who claimed Kwankwaso had worked for Tinubu during the 2023 elections and recently sought a meeting with the president.
Reacting, Kwankwaso rejected the claims, saying only “foolish people” would believe such narratives.
He said he and President Tinubu share a cordial relationship but are not politically aligned.
“I think only foolish people would believe that. We are not working for anybody. We are only working for NDC,” he said.
“Bola Tinubu has been my senior brother and good friend up till now. But that doesn’t mean we shall pull all our political ideologies together with him.
“He is doing his own and I am doing my own.”
He added that personal friendship with the president does not translate into political cooperation, stressing that each is pursuing separate political paths.
Kwankwaso also said he believes the president may not be fully aware of some of the country’s challenges, arguing that those around him may not be providing accurate feedback.
He further claimed that attention within the ruling party is largely focused on political consolidation, particularly attracting governors.
“Normally under the current circumstances, the president may not see what is happening. And unfortunately, most of the people around him are actually the ones creating the problems,” Kwankwaso said.
“So, in those circumstances, it is difficult to see who will advise him or tell him the obvious situation. What they normally tell and what they are doing is to pick governors. I think going by the number of governors now, APC is number one.”
On his recent political alignment with former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Kwankwaso said discussions within their coalition led to a consensus to support Obi as a southern candidate.
He explained that leaders across geopolitical zones were consulted before the decision was reached under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Kwankwaso added that the group considered Obi the strongest southern contender based on their internal assessment.
“When we joined the NDC, we invited all our leaders from the six geo-political zones and we sat down and looked at the situations. We then decided to come together and work as a family,” Kwankwaso said.
“The party, in its own wisdom, decided to zone the presidential ticket to the south. We looked around across the zones and we realised that Peter Obi is the best candidate. That was our assessment at that particular time.”
On his influence in the North, he said it was not for him to claim popularity, adding that the coalition is focused on engaging voters ahead of the election.
He expressed confidence that there is sufficient time to persuade the electorate before the 2027 polls, noting that competing narratives would eventually be tested by public opinion.
“I can’t start telling our viewers that I am popular. I think it’s up to the people out there to tell. We are just in the field, working very hard,” he said.
“We are trying to convince the people, even those who are going about telling lies to try to take advantage of our differences in the country, which should be our strength, we are working on that.
“And I am happy to say that we are very lucky because from now till January 16, 2027, we have about eight months, which is enough time.
“Those who are telling the lies, the lies will come out and people will also identify those who are telling the truth and are serious,”he added.
