By Mansur Hassan, PhD
Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. After more than two decades of uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999, the country continues to struggle with insecurity, poverty, unemployment, declining public confidence, weak institutions and a widening gap between the political class and ordinary citizens. At such a moment, Nigerians need to look beyond the traditional politics of ethnicity, religion and political entitlement and ask a fundamental question: Who has the competence, experience, temperament and national outlook required to rebuild Nigeria?
Against this background, the emergence of Mr. Peter Obi as the presidential candidate and Senator Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presents an opportunity for Nigerians to consider a political partnership that brings together two former governors with substantial executive experience and contrasting but complementary regional political strengths. The NDC’s May 2026 special convention formally affirmed the Obi–Kwankwaso ticket for the 2027 election.
Peter Obi: From Anambra to a National Leadership Proposition
Peter Obi’s strongest argument for the presidency is his record of executive administration in Anambra State, where he served as governor from 2006 to 2013, with periods interrupted by legal and electoral developments. The Anambra State Government’s official history confirms his tenure and the circumstances surrounding his return to office following court decisions.
His administration became particularly associated with fiscal discipline, investment in human capital and efforts to reposition public institutions.
Education was one of the major areas associated with the Obi administration. His government invested in school infrastructure and educational facilities and reportedly supported the provision of buses, ICT facilities and other learning resources to schools across the state. His administration also established the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital and worked to improve the accreditation and standard of health institutions in the state.
Another important aspect of his record was the attempt to use government resources for long-term development rather than simply for recurrent political consumption. His administration’s approach to public finance and development earned him a reputation among supporters for fiscal prudence and accountability.
Beyond infrastructure, Obi has continued to emphasize the importance of investing in people. His public interventions after leaving office have frequently focused on education, healthcare, poverty reduction and the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. His emphasis on moving resources toward productive sectors reflects a philosophy that government should be judged not merely by the number of projects it announces but by the measurable improvement it creates in people’s lives.
Kwankwaso: The Kano Model of Mass-Oriented Governance
If Peter Obi represents a strong argument for fiscal prudence and human-capital investment from the Southeast, Senator Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso represents a powerful record of mass-oriented governance from Northern Nigeria, particularly through his two periods as Governor of Kano State.
Kwankwaso served as governor from 1999 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2015. His administration placed education at the centre of its development strategy. During his first tenure, Kano State established Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, while his second administration established Northwest University, Kano. The Kano State Government’s historical account also records major infrastructure milestones associated with his administration, including the construction of the state’s first flyover.