Former Kano State Governor and national leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has faulted comments made by former Borno State Governor, , over the political strength of in Northern Nigeria.
Reacting in a post shared on X on Tuesday, Kwankwaso said he was disappointed by Sheriff’s remarks during a recent interview on Channels Television, where the former governor reportedly claimed that Obi could not command significant support across the North.
“I watched with disappointment the recent interview granted by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to Channels Television on Monday,” Kwankwaso wrote.
“After a prolonged absence from public discourse, one would have expected that time away might have sharpened Senator Sheriff’s judgment. Regrettably, that does not appear to be the case.”
Kwankwaso questioned Sheriff’s claim that Obi lacked electoral strength in the region, arguing that the former Labour Party presidential candidate had already demonstrated considerable support during the last general election.
“In the interview, the former governor claimed that Peter Obi cannot command sizeable support in Northern Nigeria. It is curious that he has appointed himself spokesperson for the Northern masses. For the record, in his first outing on the presidential ballot, Mr. Obi secured approximately 2.8 million votes in the region — a remarkable achievement that cannot be dismissed lightly,” he said.
The former presidential candidate also argued that the country’s current economic and security challenges, coupled with what he described as public dissatisfaction with the ruling APC administration, could reshape the political landscape ahead of the next election.
“Given the current national hardships, the widespread consensus on the failure of the APC administration, and the addition of a strong Northern figure to the ticket who previously garnered 1.45 million votes in the region, the OK ticket remains a formidable force in Northern politics,” he added.
Kwankwaso also disagreed with Sheriff’s assertion that voters in Kano State would not support Obi, insisting that the state’s electorate had consistently backed the Kwankwasiyya movement regardless of ethnicity or religion.
“Even more surprising was Senator Sheriff’s assertion that the people of Kano would not vote for Mr. Obi. Let me state clearly: the good people of Kano are neither bigoted nor xenophobic. They have consistently demonstrated strong trust in the Kwankwasiyya movement and will support any credible ticket presented under its banner.”
He further urged Sheriff to focus on issues affecting his home state instead of making comments capable of creating political division.
“I respectfully advise Senator Sheriff that, in future national television appearances, he would do better to speak to the serious insecurity and humanitarian challenges facing his home state, rather than making divisive and poorly considered remarks.”
Kwankwaso concluded by expressing confidence in what he described as the “OK ticket,” saying it offers Nigerians a credible alternative.
“The OK ticket currently represents the best opportunity for Nigerians to reset the country and place it on a path of competence, unity, and progress.”This version is SEO-friendly, uses natural newsroom language, preserves all the direct quotes from Kwankwaso’s post, and avoids plagiarism by restructuring the narrative.