Former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has sharply criticised his Borno State counterpart, Ali Modu Sheriff, over remarks questioning Peter Obi’s electoral appeal in Northern Nigeria.
In a statement posted on X early Wednesday, Mr Kwankwaso expressed disappointment at Mr Sheriff’s recent interview on Channels Television, arguing that the former governor’s comments bore little resemblance to political realities in the region.
“After a prolonged absence from public discourse, one would have expected that time away might have sharpened Senator Sheriff’s judgment. Regrettably, that does not appear to be the case,” he said.
Mr Kwankwaso took particular issue with Mr Sheriff’s assertion that Mr Obi could not command significant support in the North, pointing out that the former presidential candidate secured approximately 2.8 million votes in the region during his first presidential bid – a feat he described as “a remarkable achievement that cannot be dismissed lightly.”
He further argued that the country’s mounting economic and social challenges, compounded by what he termed the failures of the current administration, have only bolstered the prospects of the “OK ticket” in the North. The inclusion of a prominent northern figure who previously garnered about 1.45 million votes in the region, he added, further strengthens the alliance’s electoral viability.
Rejecting Mr Sheriff’s claim that Kano voters would not support Mr Obi, Mr Kwankwaso insisted that residents of the state have historically backed candidates endorsed by the Kwankwasiyya Movement, irrespective of ethnic or regional affiliations.
“The good people of Kano are neither bigoted nor xenophobic. They have consistently demonstrated strong trust in the Kwankwasiyya movement and will support any credible ticket presented under its banner,” he stated.
The former governor urged Mr Sheriff to focus on addressing the security and humanitarian crises in his home state, rather than making divisive remarks on national television.
“The OK ticket currently represents the best opportunity for Nigerians to reset the country and place it on a path of competence, unity, and progress,” Mr Kwankwaso concluded.
