APC’s control of over 30 govs does not guarantee Tinubu’s victory in 2027

Says if Jonathan could lose election, those who think they have over 30 govs and can’t lose are making a big mistake

Slams northern govs over poor performance, says many have failed to deliver meaningful devt

Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, says the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s control of more than 30 states does not guarantee President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 election.

Kwankwaso spoke on Thursday in Port Harcourt during a town hall meeting with voters where he and Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the NDC, fielded questions on the prospects of the 2027 general election.

The former governor of Kano cited the 2015 election, when then-President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari, the APC candidate.

Recall that in the build-up to the 2015 election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which Jonathan contested, controlled about 20 states in the country.

However, during the election, Jonathan won in 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while Buhari won the remaining 21 states, according to results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Eleven of the 21 states won by Buhari were controlled by the PDP at the time.

Following his victory in the 2023 election, in which he defeated Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, President Bola Tinubu is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC, which currently controls about 31 states.

Referencing Jonathan’s defeat in 2015, Kwankwaso dismissed suggestions that the ruling party’s control of numerous states would guarantee victory for Tinubu.

“Jonathan was the sitting president and he lost the election. Those who think that because they have over 30 governors they cannot lose are making a very big mistake,” he said.

The former Kano governor argued that many candidates seeking to be Nigeria’s president lack the experience required to lead the country.

He said Nigeria urgently needs “a committed, strong and vibrant president” capable of addressing the nation’s challenges.

Kwankwaso warned Nigerians against making what he described as another costly political mistake in 2027.

“This is the time to get it right. Anything to the contrary, if people make a mistake, they will regret making that mistake because it will be too costly for the people and the country,” he said.

Kwankwaso also criticised the performance of several governors, particularly in northern Nigeria, claiming that many had failed to deliver meaningful development.

He predicted that some governors, particularly those in the North, would find it difficult to campaign for their parties because of what he described as poor performance in office.

“By the grace of God, all of them, especially the ones in the North, because I studied the trend. The trend is those governors and their party have performed woefully to the extent that it is very difficult for them even to come out and campaign,” he said.

He also criticised what he described as poor management of public resources by state governors and the Federal Government, arguing that government revenues had increased substantially compared with previous years.

Recalling his experience as governor in 1999, Kwankwaso said states and local governments received about N4 billion each at the time.

He, however, questioned the impact of the increased revenues accruing to governments in recent years on the lives of Nigerians.

“Now in one year, we have seen it on social media that our government collected over N1.11tn, just less than one year. You go around, what have you done with that money? Close to nothing,” he said.

Kwankwaso said the alleged poor performance of governments had increased public anger across the country, warning that insecurity remained a major concern, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

“And people are very angry. And this anger is bad, and worse is the issue of insecurity, especially in northern Nigeria,” he stated.

Also speaking, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, NDC governorship candidate in Rivers, commended party members for their patience, resilience and commitment to the movement.

Lulu-Briggs expressed confidence that the party would build “a Nigeria that works”, while assuring the national leadership of the unwavering support of party members in the state.