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

Naijapunchnews reports that Obi, in an interview with The Sun, said his choice was influenced by Kwankwaso’s commitment to fighting poverty and investing in education, which he described as values they both share.

According to Obi, the former Kano State governor believes strongly in lifting people out of poverty through education and human capital development.

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

He added that both of them share the same vision for rebuilding Nigeria’s economy and creating opportunities for citizens through education.

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

Obi stressed that education would remain a major priority of his administration if elected, describing it as the foundation for national development.

“If you look at my X, formerly Twitter, I made it clear that I will emphasise education. Education is going to change society.”

The former Anambra State governor argued that Nigeria must invest heavily in developing its human capital to achieve sustainable economic growth.

“Nigeria must be seen to form its innermost human capital, which we need to develop. Kwankwaso believes in this. I do. We have synergy.”

Dismisses Rift Speculation

Obi also dismissed reports suggesting that there is a disagreement between him and Kwankwaso following the announcement of their joint ticket.

He insisted that both leaders remain united and are working closely together as they prepare for the January 2027 general election.

According to him, their focus remains on presenting an alternative vision for Nigeria built on good governance, economic recovery, education, and poverty reduction.

The NDC presidential candidate maintained that their partnership is based on shared principles rather than political convenience, expressing confidence that their combined experience would strengthen the party’s campaign ahead of the polls.