A former Governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has criticised former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, over his remarks questioning the electoral strength of Peter Obi in Northern Nigeria.
In a statement posted on X in the early hours of Wednesday, Kwankwaso said he watched Sheriff’s recent interview on Channels Television with disappointment, arguing that the former governor’s comments did not reflect the realities of Northern politics.
“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.
Kwankwaso faulted Sheriff’s claim that Obi could not command significant support in the North, noting that the former presidential candidate secured about 2.8 million votes in the region during his first presidential contest.
“For the record, in his first outing on the presidential ballot, Mr Obi secured approximately 2.8 million votes in the region — a remarkable achievement that cannot be dismissed lightly,” he stated.
According to him, prevailing economic and social challenges in the country, coupled with what he described as the failure of the ruling administration, have strengthened the prospects of the “OK ticket” in the region.
He added that the inclusion of a prominent Northern figure who previously secured about 1.45 million votes in the region further reinforced the alliance’s electoral prospects.
Kwankwaso also rejected Sheriff’s assertion that voters in Kano would not support Obi, insisting that residents of the state have historically backed candidates endorsed by the Kwankwasiyya Movement regardless of ethnic or regional considerations.
“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 said.
The former governor further urged Sheriff to focus on the security and humanitarian challenges confronting his home state rather than making what he described as 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,” Kwankwaso added.
