Monday, July 13, 2026

I’m more qualified than Peter Obi to be his running mate: Kwankwaso

Mr Kwankwaso said that accepting to run as Mr Obi’s vice presidential candidate will collapse the NNPP that he’s “built in the last 30 years.”

• July 3, 2022
Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi
Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi

Rabiu Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), says he cannot be running mate to Peter Obi because he was more qualified than the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate.

Speaking on Saturday in Gombe, Mr Kwankwaso said that during discussions on merger with the LP, representatives from his side “thought that there should be a criteria in terms of age, qualification, offices held, performance and so on.”

The former Kano governor said his political profile and wealth of experience having served in various capacities had helped in bringing NNPP to limelight within a short time.

“I served for 17 years as a civil servant; we are talking of 47 years of very serious hard work that is what is rarely holding NNPP now,” he said.

Mr Kwankwaso said that accepting to run as Mr Obi’s vice presidential candidate will collapse the NNPP, saying “the party is based on what we have built in the last 30 years.”

He said that one issue raised during discussions for merger with the LP, was that “most of the people from there believe that the presidency has to go there (South East).”

The NNPP leader said that the presidency going to the South-East in 2023 must be done based on “strategy, political calculation and equation.”

According to him, the South-East are good in business and are well talented but they should learn politics, “in politics they are at the bottom line.”

He said that the South-East having lost out on the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had a “golden opportunity” with the NNPP, and “will be a disaster” if they lose it.

On his choice of running mate, Mr Kwankwaso said there were options to pick from the South, and “one of them is the Labour Party man you are talking about.”

On the chances of the NNPP in the 2023 elections, he said that his party had the structure, organisation and population across the country to contest and win elections.

He said if elected president in 2023, he would create opportunities for the youths to get employed, achieve their dreams and be empowered educationally and economically.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Kashim Shettima

NationWide

Speaker Abbas hails Shettima’s re-nomination as Tinubu’s running mate in 2027

Mr Tajudeen said the vice president had remained dependable since assuming office.

PTAD

NationWide

Harmonisation reforms will promote pension equity, restore confidence: PTAD

PTAD manages pensions under the old Federal Government pension arrangement.

NECO/WAEC logos

NationWide

Mixed reactions trail FG’s N50,000 approval for WAEC, NECO exam fee

Ms Ogunkoya urged the government to balance cost recovery with citizens’ access to essential public services.

Armed policemen

Hot news Home top

Man arrested for allegedly beating wife to death over food in Nasarawa

The police spokesman added that the suspect expressed remorse over the incident.

ROAD CRASH

Heading 5

Seven die in Bauchi-Maiduguri road crash

The police spokesperson said an investigation had commenced to determine the immediate and remote causes of the accident.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

World

FBI offers $50,000 reward for information on fugitive wanted for violent crimes

A federal arrest warrant was issued for Mr Singh in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles, California on July 1.