Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential running mate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has challenged the belief that President Bola Tinubu is assured of victory in the 2027 presidential election because of the ruling All Progressives Congress’ (APC) control of more than 30 states.
Kwankwaso argued that the number of governors supporting a presidential candidate does not necessarily translate into votes at the national level. He cited former President Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat in the 2015 election as evidence that incumbency and political structures cannot guarantee electoral success.
“Jonathan was the sitting president, and he lost the election. Those who think that because they have more than 30 governors, they cannot lose are making a very big mistake,” Kwankwaso said.
The former Kano State governor made the remarks during a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, where he also criticised the performance of APC governors.
According to Kwankwaso, the electoral strength of governors ultimately depends on how voters assess their records in office. He alleged that several APC governors had performed poorly and might find it difficult to campaign effectively on the basis of their achievements.
“The trend is that those governors and their parties have performed woefully. It is difficult for many of them to even come out and campaign because, from top to bottom, they did absolutely nothing,” he added.
The comments are significant as political parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 presidential contest. While control of state governments can provide candidates with substantial political structures, the eventual outcome will be determined by voters and the electoral process.
Kwankwaso’s remarks also highlight the growing contest between the ruling APC and opposition forces seeking to challenge Tinubu’s bid for another term.
Jonathan’s defeat by Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 remains a major reference point in Nigeria’s political history, particularly in debates over incumbency. Jonathan became the first Nigerian president seeking re-election to lose to an opposition candidate, underscoring the limits of political control at the ballot box.
