By Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso will serve as his vice president “as a partner, not a spare tyre” if elected in the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the remark in his acceptance speech following his nomination as the party’s presidential candidate, according to a statement posted on his X handle on Sunday.
The former Anambra State governor also confirmed Kwankwaso as his running mate, marking a major political alignment ahead of the next general election.
Both politicians contested the 2023 presidential election, where Obi finished third and Kwankwaso came fourth. They were defeated by then Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu, who was declared winner.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, ran under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and maintained strong influence in Kano, where he secured his only state victory.
Obi described his nomination as a call to national service, pledging to pursue what he called a “New Nigeria” built on unity, security, economic reform, and accountable governance.
He said Nigeria was facing a critical national moment marked by insecurity, economic hardship and declining public confidence in leadership.
On security, Obi said the situation had worsened significantly, citing global terrorism impact rankings that placed Nigeria among the most affected countries in recent years.
He called for urgent reforms, stressing that government’s primary responsibility is the protection of lives and property.
On healthcare, he said Nigeria’s health system remained underperforming, noting that many primary healthcare centres were not functional and health insurance coverage remained low. He pledged to expand coverage and strengthen healthcare infrastructure nationwide if elected.
On education, Obi promised increased investment in human capital development, with focus on schools, teachers and vocational training to improve productivity and innovation.
On agriculture and food security, he raised concerns over rising hunger levels, citing projections of millions facing acute food insecurity, and called for large-scale agricultural investment to unlock Nigeria’s arable land.
On power supply, he noted that Nigeria’s electricity generation remains around 4,000 megawatts for over 200 million people, describing it as inadequate for economic growth. He pledged to significantly boost power generation within four years.
On unemployment, he said official figures underestimate the crisis, particularly among young people, and promised targeted support for small and medium-scale enterprises through financing and tax reforms.
Obi also promised to reduce governance costs, fight corruption and strengthen democratic institutions.
He reiterated that his administration would be built on partnership leadership, stating that the vice president would not be a “spare tyre” but an active partner in governance.
“I hereby accept my affirmation and nominate Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as my Vice President,” he s
