Oriontimes Political Desk |September 4, 2026
PORT HARCOURT — Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has dismissed the suggestion that the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s control of more than 30 states gives President Bola Tinubu an assured victory in the 2027 presidential election.
Kwankwaso made the remarks on Thursday in Port Harcourt during a town hall meeting with voters, where he and NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, fielded questions on the political prospects ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to Kwankwaso, control of state governments should not be interpreted as a guarantee of electoral victory at the federal level.
He cited the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election as an example, arguing that even the advantage of incumbency and political structures at the state level could not automatically translate into victory at the national poll.
“If Jonathan, as a sitting president, could lose an election, then 30 governors cannot save Tinubu,” Kwankwaso said.
His comment comes amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with opposition parties seeking to challenge the dominance of the APC and build broader coalitions across the country.
The NDC leaders used the Port Harcourt engagement to interact directly with voters and respond to questions concerning the opposition’s strategy, electoral prospects and the possibility of defeating the ruling party in 2027.
Kwankwaso’s remarks underscore the opposition’s argument that presidential elections are ultimately determined by voters at the ballot box rather than solely by the number of state governments controlled by a political party.
The 2027 election is expected to witness intense political competition as major parties position themselves for what could become one of Nigeria’s most consequential presidential contests.
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