Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has predicted that the opposition presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will fail to secure victory in Kano State during the 2027 general election.
Ganduje made the remarks while addressing party supporters at a political gathering, expressing confidence that the APC would retain its dominance in Kano despite the emergence of the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to the former APC chairman, Kano remains a stronghold of the ruling party, and the political influence of the APC across the state would ensure victory in future elections. He argued that the party’s grassroots structures, membership strength and governance record would outweigh the appeal of any opposition coalition.
“The APC remains firmly rooted in Kano, and no opposition alliance can displace the party in the state,” Ganduje reportedly told supporters, urging party members to remain united ahead of the 2027 polls.
His comments come amid growing political realignments ahead of the next general election, with the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket emerging as one of the major opposition alliances seeking to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC.
The partnership between Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso has attracted significant national attention, particularly because of Kwankwaso’s longstanding political influence in Kano and other parts of Northern Nigeria. Political observers believe the alliance is designed to combine Obi’s support base in the South with Kwankwaso’s political strength in the North in an effort to broaden the opposition’s electoral appeal.
However, Ganduje dismissed suggestions that the alliance would significantly alter Kano’s political landscape, insisting that the APC remains the preferred choice of voters in the state.
Political analysts note that Kano is one of Nigeria’s most electorally significant states due to its large voting population, making it a critical battleground in every presidential election. As a result, control of the state’s votes is expected to play a major role in determining the outcome of the 2027 contest.
The former governor’s remarks have generated mixed reactions among political stakeholders. APC supporters welcomed his confidence in the party’s prospects, while opposition figures argued that the election outcome would ultimately be determined by voters rather than political predictions.
Analysts also observed that political alliances, campaign strategies and the performance of both the ruling party and the opposition over the coming months are likely to influence voter sentiment before the election.
As preparations for the 2027 general election gather momentum, both the APC and opposition parties are expected to intensify grassroots mobilisation, policy engagements and coalition-building across the country.
Observers believe Kano will remain one of the key battlegrounds in the presidential race, with parties investing considerable resources in securing support from the state’s large electorate.
While Ganduje remains confident of an APC victory in Kano, political analysts caution that electoral outcomes depend on several factors, including campaign effectiveness, voter turnout, prevailing economic conditions and the credibility of the electoral process. They note that the final verdict will rest with the electorate when Nigerians head to the polls in 2027.
