Why I Chose Kwankwaso as My Running Mate — Peter Obi

• Peter Obi has explained that he chose Rabiu Kwankwaso as running mate in the coming 2027 presidential election is because of their shared commitment to…

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has explained why he selected the leader of the Kwankwassiyya Movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking in an interview with The Sun, Obi said his decision was driven by Kwankwaso’s commitment to reducing poverty and investing in education, values he believes align closely with his own vision for Nigeria.

According to Obi, both leaders share a common philosophy centred on developing human capital and rebuilding the nation’s economy through quality education.

“Kwankwaso has the philosophy of pulling people out of poverty,” Obi said.

He stressed that education remains the foundation for national development, noting that meaningful societal transformation cannot occur without investing heavily in learning and human capacity.

“I have the same philosophy. Kwankwaso believes in education. You cannot change society without education,” he said.

Obi recalled that he had consistently emphasised the importance of education in his public engagements, including posts shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

“I made it clear that I will emphasise education. Education is going to change society. Nigeria must focus on developing its human capital, which is what we need to grow. Kwankwaso believes in this. I do. We have synergy,” he added.

The former Anambra State governor also dismissed reports suggesting there were disagreements between him and Kwankwaso following their emergence as the NDC’s presidential ticket.

According to Obi, both leaders remain united and are working together to strategise ahead of the January 2027 presidential election.

He maintained that their partnership is built on shared values and a common commitment to tackling poverty, improving education and driving economic growth across the country.