Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has dismissed the presidential ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, featuring Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as "dead on arrival" in Kano State, arguing that the opposition alliance lacks the political strength and governance record needed to win support in the state. Ganduje made the remarks on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, while speaking with journalists in Abuja, where he expressed confidence that the APC remains the dominant political force in Kano and that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket would secure a decisive victory in the 2027 general elections.
Ganduje, a prominent political figure from Kano State, argued that Kwankwaso's influence in the state has waned significantly since he left the APC and that the NDC ticket does not have the political machinery required to challenge the ruling party in the state. "The Obi-Kwankwaso ticket is dead on arrival in Kano. The people of Kano know the APC's track record and the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They will not be swayed by a ticket that lacks the political strength and governance record needed to win in Kano," Ganduje said.
The former APC chairman's comments come just days after Kwankwaso, who is the vice-presidential candidate of the NDC, had expressed confidence that the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket would perform well in Kano and across the North. Kwankwaso had also suggested that President Tinubu still had time to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima with a Christian running mate to address the Muslim-Muslim ticket issue. However, Ganduje dismissed Kwankwaso's claims, insisting that the APC remains united and that the people of Kano are fully behind the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.
Ganduje also argued that the NDC's internal crisis, including the defection of some of its members back to the APC and ongoing legal disputes, would further weaken the party's chances in 2027. He pointed to the return of Senator Kabiru Gaya to the APC as evidence that the NDC was losing momentum. Gaya, a former Kano State governor and prominent NDC leader, recently agreed to rejoin the APC following a meeting with the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.
The former APC chairman's dismissal of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket is expected to set the stage for a fierce political battle in Kano State, which is widely regarded as a key battleground in the 2027 presidential election. While the APC has historically dominated elections in Kano, the NDC is hoping to capitalize on the growing dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration to make inroads in the state. However, Ganduje's comments suggest that the APC remains confident of victory in the state and is prepared to confront the NDC challenge head-on.
The NDC has yet to respond to Ganduje's comments, but the party is expected to dismiss his claims as the rantings of a desperate politician. The 2027 election is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in Nigeria's history, and the battle for Kano State is likely to be closely watched by political observers and stakeholders across the country.
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