KANO, NIGERIA — The Kwankwasiyya Movement has issued a strongly worded defense of its national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, following a wave of criticism regarding his potential political alliance with Peter Obi under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) platform.
In a press release issued today, May 8, 2026, the movement slammed what it described as “selective attacks” and “misleading narratives” coming from sections of the Northern political establishment.
A New “Political Equation”
The movement argued that the backlash is born out of “political fear” regarding the potential of a Kwankwaso-Obi partnership. By combining Kwankwaso’s disciplined grassroots structure in the North with Obi’s massive appeal among the youth and urban voters in the South, the movement claims the alliance could “fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s democratic landscape.”
“What appears to be troubling certain interests is not merely the possibility of political cooperation, but the enormous national potential such an alliance represents,” the statement read.
Double Standards and Elite Panic
The Kwankwasiyya leadership pointed out a “double standard” in how political commentators view the move. They noted that while similar strategic engagements by other politicians are labeled “patriotic,” Kwankwaso’s efforts are being unfairly portrayed as “ambitious or disruptive.”
The movement dismissed these attacks as “petty elite propaganda,” asserting that Kwankwaso’s relevance is rooted in his independent political strength and service to the “lower-income population” rather than federal backing.
Focus on 2027
As the 2027 election cycle begins to loom, this statement signals that the Kwankwasiyya Movement is fully prepared to defend its cross-regional strategy. The group urged political stakeholders to move toward issue-based politics and national inclusion rather than demonizing alliances that seek to bridge regional divides.
“Nigeria today faces enormous economic, security, and governance challenges,” the release noted. “Any political understanding that seeks to unite Nigerians… should be encouraged rather than demonized.”
