Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has dismissed longstanding concerns regarding the marginalization of deputy executives, asserting that the relevance of the office is defined entirely by the disposition of the principal.
Kwankwaso made the remarks on Sunday during a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series, where he addressed the pervasive “spare tyre” narrative that has historically characterized the vice-presidency in the country’s political discourse. The former Kano State governor argued that the functionality of the office is not statutory but relational, hinging on the willingness of a president to delegate meaningful authority.
Expressing unreserved confidence in the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Kwankwaso projected a governance model rooted in cooperation and effective delegation should the ticket prevail in the 2027 election. He cited his extensive background in legislative and executive leadership — spanning roles as a deputy speaker, a federal minister, and a two-term governor — as preparation for operating within a structured leadership hierarchy.
“A president who trusts his vice-president and gives him meaningful responsibilities can achieve more for the country,” Kwankwaso said. “I don’t think I will be sidelined by His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, if we win the 2027 election.”
The candidate framed the anticipated partnership as a departure from transactional politics, emphasizing that mutual trust would unlock administrative efficiency. His comments come amid renewed public scrutiny on the constitutional limitations of the vice-presidential office and the practical realities of power-sharing at the federal level. By anchoring his expectation of relevance in Obi’s personal leadership style rather than statutory guarantee, Kwankwaso signaled a strategic alignment predicated on interpersonal dynamics over institutional reform.
The interview underscores the NDC’s early narrative focus on governance chemistry as a campaign asset, positioning the ticket’s collective experience as a bulwark against the administrative inertia often associated with disconnected executive pairs.
