Obi Kwankwaso 2027 bid faces criticism as Abdullahi Ganduje says both politicians lack the legacy needed to win Nigeria’s presidency
Former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Abuja criticised the political records of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, saying the pair lack the governance legacy needed to win Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
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Ganduje, who spoke with journalists in the Federal Capital Territory, dismissed the possibility of an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, claiming the proposed alliance would struggle to gain support, particularly in Kano State.
“I don’t think Peter Obi and Kwankwaso’s ticket will succeed in Kano. It will not succeed. In fact, it is dead on arrival,” Ganduje said.
The former Kano State governor questioned Obi’s record during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, asking whether the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate had achieved enough in public service to demonstrate readiness for national leadership.
“Peter Obi was a governor in Anambra State. What did he do as a governor? What legacy did he leave as a governor?” Ganduje asked.
He also challenged whether Obi had held any other major governance position where he made a significant national impact that could convince Nigerians of his ability to manage the country effectively.
Ganduje extended his criticism to Kwankwaso, the former Kano governor and leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), arguing that his political record did not match that of other former Kano leaders.
The former APC chairman pointed to the tenures of Ibrahim Shekarau and himself, noting that both completed two consecutive terms as Kano State governors, while Kwankwaso did not immediately secure a second term after his first administration.
“Kwankwaso too, he was a governor of Kano State. He was not able to be a governor back-to-back,” Ganduje said.
Ganduje argued that the former Kano governor’s record did not provide enough evidence to persuade voters that he could successfully serve at the national level.
“So I don’t think, even in Kano, what legacy specifically can you say that he has left in Kano that will convince the people of Kano and the people of Nigeria that he will be a successful vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?” he said.
The comments come as political parties and potential contenders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with alliances and public debates over leadership records expected to shape the political landscape.
Obi, who previously served as Anambra governor from 2006 to 2013, and Kwankwaso, who governed Kano State from 1999 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2015, remain influential figures with significant support bases in Nigerian politics.
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Ganduje’s remarks reflect the growing political contest ahead of 2027, although supporters of both opposition figures have continued to highlight their records and national appeal as key strengths.
