Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has cautioned governors counting on electoral manipulation and control of state machinery to secure re-election in 2027 that they risk disappointment. The former Kano State governor made the remarks in Abuja during an appearance on the News Agency of Nigeria Personality Interview Series.
Kwankwaso said several governors who have failed to deliver basic services to their constituents are defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the belief that the party’s institutional strength will guarantee them another term. He argued that mounting public frustration over insecurity, poverty, unemployment and collapsing public services will shape voter behaviour in the next general election.
“What I foresee in the 2027 Elections is that most of the governors seeking re-election will be disappointed because people will not support them,” Kwankwaso said. He noted that Nigerians are becoming more politically conscious and are less likely to back incumbents simply because they control government structures.
The former governor pointed to the country’s large population of out-of-school children and the spread of insecurity across communities as evidence that citizens are demanding accountable leadership. He cited his own record in Kano, where his administration expanded access to primary, secondary and tertiary education, introduced programmes targeting the Almajiri system, and invested in infrastructure such as student hostels.
Kwankwaso criticised the wave of cross-carpeting by opposition politicians into the APC, describing it as a strategy driven by personal ambition rather than public interest. He insisted that the final verdict will rest with voters, regardless of the political machinery at the disposal of sitting governors. Effective governance, he added, depends on prioritising public resources to address the most pressing needs of the population.
