Former Kano State Governor and prominent northern politician, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has thrown his weight behind the decision of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, describing the move as necessary for unity and national healing.
Kwankwaso made his position known during the party’s national convention held in Abuja on Saturday, where party leaders formally announced that the NDC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election would emerge from the southern region of the country.
The former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) said the zoning arrangement reflected fairness, equity, and respect for Nigeria’s power-sharing tradition.
According to him, the country has a long history of political cooperation between the North and the South, and sustaining that balance remains important for national stability.
“It is therefore with a great sense of unity and solidarity that, as a loyal party member, I support the decision to zone the presidential ticket of the NDC to the South, so that it allows the region to complete its turn in producing national leadership,” Kwankwaso told delegates at the convention.
He added that the decision presents “a true opportunity for national healing,” stressing that members of the party must remain committed to fairness and the principle of federal character in all areas of governance.
Kwankwaso also used the occasion to criticise the current state of governance in the country, warning that Nigeria was facing serious political and economic challenges.
He said poor leadership over the years had weakened the nation and left citizens struggling with worsening living conditions.
According to him, Nigeria is presently standing “at a critical crossroads,” as insecurity, economic hardship, and failing infrastructure continue to affect millions of citizens across the country.
“Instead of positioning Nigeria to seize emerging opportunities, bad governance has left us bearing the brunt of global changes,” he said.
The former governor lamented the growing insecurity in several parts of the country, noting that many families had lost loved ones while countless others had been displaced from their communities.
“We are witnessing a sharp decline in the quality of life. Insecurity has created widows and orphans across the land.
”Millions have been displaced from their homes,” he stated.
Kwankwaso further argued that investors were losing confidence in the country due to instability and poor economic management.
He accused leaders of neglecting critical infrastructure and allowing the education sector to deteriorate, while imposing harsh economic policies on citizens without providing adequate support measures.
“Investments are fleeing, critical infrastructure is neglected, the education system is collapsing, and harsh economic policies have been imposed on citizens without meaningful safety nets or relief,” he added.
Despite the concerns he raised, Kwankwaso expressed confidence that the NDC could offer a better direction for the country if given the opportunity to lead.
He promised that the party would introduce a leadership style capable of restoring Nigeria’s dignity both locally and internationally.
“The leadership standard we shall set will restore Nigeria’s dignity and guarantee that our citizens at home and in the diaspora will be treated with respect and dignity,” he said.
Earlier at the convention, the NDC officially confirmed that its 2027 presidential ticket would be reserved for candidates from Southern Nigeria.
The party also proposed a single four-year presidential term for its eventual candidate, after which power would rotate back to Northern Nigeria in 2031.
The announcement comes amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections. Current President Bola Tinubu, who is from Southern Nigeria, assumed office in 2023 following the completion of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year administration.
