Kano people not xenophobic: Kwankwaso rejects Modu Sheriff’s dismissal of Obi’s Northern appeal
Senator Kwankwaso Responds to Sheriff’s Comments on Peter Obi’s Candidacy
Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has strongly criticized former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff for his remarks regarding the electoral prospects of the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Northern Nigeria for the upcoming 2027 general election.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Kwankwaso expressed disappointment over Sheriff’s comments made during an interview on Channels Television, in which Sheriff claimed that voters in Northern Nigeria would not support Obi.
“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,” Kwankwaso said.
Kwankwaso contested Sheriff’s portrayal of himself as a representative of Northern voters, asserting that Obi had shown significant support in the region during the 2023 presidential election. He noted that Obi received approximately 2.8 million votes in his initial presidential bid, emphasizing the importance of this achievement.
Kwankwaso further argued that the current economic climate and dissatisfaction with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have enhanced the NDC’s prospects. “Given the current national hardships and the widespread consensus regarding the failures of the APC administration, combined with the addition of a strong Northern figure to the ticket who previously garnered 1.45 million votes in the region, the OK ticket remains a formidable force in Northern politics,” he stated.
In addressing Sheriff’s claim that voters in Kano would not support Obi, Kwankwaso labeled the assertion as inaccurate. He defended the political views of the electorate in Kano, stating, “The good people of Kano are neither bigoted nor xenophobic. They have consistently shown strong trust in the Kwankwasiyya movement and will support any credible ticket presented under its banner.”
Kwankwaso urged Sheriff to focus on pressing issues in Borno State, such as security and humanitarian challenges, rather than making divisive political statements. “I respectfully advise Senator Sheriff that, in future national television appearances, he would do better to address the serious insecurity and humanitarian challenges facing his home state, rather than making divisive and poorly considered remarks,” he concluded.
He reaffirmed that the NDC’s “OK ticket” presents the best opportunity for Nigeria to move toward a path of competence, unity, and progress in the lead-up to the 2027 presidential election.