Former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has explained why he decided to form a political alliance with former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Naija News reports that Kwankwaso said the partnership was inspired by historical political cooperation between Northern and South-East leaders, as well as Obi’s perceived capacity to work honestly for Nigeria’s progress.

The former Kano State governor spoke on Monday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme.

Kwankwaso said the North was returning to the political style adopted by former Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and Ahmadu Bello during the First Republic.

He also recalled the political cooperation that existed between former President Shehu Shagari and South-East leaders during the Second Republic.

According to him, “Now we’re going back to what Tafawa Balewa and Ahmadu Bello did during their time, and in the Second Republic, what Shehu Shagari and others did with the leadership of the South East.”

The NNPP chieftain described the South-East as longstanding friends of the North, adding that the region was willing to work together with northern leaders.

He said, “The people of the South East are friends of the North. They want to work together with us.”

Kwankwaso also recalled his working relationship with leaders from the South-East during his time in the National Assembly.

“From my experience as former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, I had the opportunity to work with my Speaker, and we worked very well,” he stated.

Kwankwaso said the decision to align with Obi was not solely because of regional considerations, but based on consultations within the North on who could genuinely move the country forward.

“But for me, it wasn’t just because we are going to the South East. No, I looked around together with our leadership in the North to ask who we think is capable, who can come and work honestly with us so that we can move this country forward.

“And along the line, we realized that Peter Obi is at the forefront of it, and that’s why we all accepted to work together,” Kwankwaso added.

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