Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has issued a clarion call to Nigerians, framing the forthcoming 2027 general election not as a routine political contest but as an existential struggle between the masses and what he termed "the oppressors" who have held the nation captive for decades. Kwankwaso made this declaration on Friday, August 21, 2026, while receiving a delegation of South-East leaders and stakeholders of the Kwankwaso National Network, led by the group's South-East Zonal Coordinator, Dr Ukpai Iro Ukpai, at his Maitama residence in Abuja. The former Kano State governor, who is running on the NDC ticket alongside presidential candidate Peter Obi, told the delegation that the growing dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in the country had created a strong desire among Nigerians for a political reset.
Kwankwaso insisted that the 2027 election must not be reduced to a mere contest between political parties but viewed as a decisive choice about the future of Nigeria. "It is not about me, it is about us," he was quoted as saying, while urging members of the KNN and supporters of the alliance to remain committed to the struggle beyond the 2027 election. The NDC vice-presidential candidate argued that Nigerians were increasingly dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the country and were ready to reset the nation. He lamented worsening insecurity, poor infrastructure, unreliable electricity and water supply, declining educational standards and challenges in agriculture, insisting that Nigerians urgently needed a change of direction.
In a direct appeal to citizens, Kwankwaso urged Nigerians to resist electoral fraud and vote selling, stressing that no immediate personal gain was more important than the future of the country, which he said was under threat. He pointed to the recently concluded Osun State governorship election as proof that votes could count in 2027 if Nigerians remained resolute in defending their mandates. The former governor also charged KNN leaders to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the election, as the South-East leaders of the group pledged to deliver at least five million votes for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket in the region.
Kwankwaso also recalled the historic political cooperation between the North and South-East, citing the Second Republic alliance between former President Shehu Shagari and Dr Alex Ekwueme. "The North has always worked in alliance with the South, especially the South-East. President Shehu Shagari picked Dr Alex Ekwueme as his Vice. Today, what is most important, history is repeating itself," he was quoted as saying. He described the NDC as the biggest opposition platform in the country and expressed confidence that its political strength would continue to grow. The South-East delegation, which included the National Coordinator of KNN, Asiwaju Mashood Shitu, briefed Kwankwaso on the group's structures, activities, challenges and mobilisation efforts across the region, with discussions focusing on strengthening the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance and consolidating grassroots support.
Kwankwaso expressed satisfaction with the growing activities of KNN, describing the network as one of the powerful support groups behind the political movement. He also promised that education would receive priority under the Obi-Kwankwaso administration, regretting what he described as the continued neglect and deterioration of the sector. The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to deepen grassroots mobilisation and translate growing support into votes. As the 2027 political season gathers momentum, Kwankwaso's framing of the election as a battle between Nigerians and "the oppressors" is likely to resonate with a populace weary of economic hardship and systemic failure, setting the stage for a fiercely contested struggle that could redefine the country's political future.
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