Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Vice-Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has warned governors who believe they can use electoral manipulation and control of state structures to secure re-election beyond 2027 that they may be disappointed at the polls.
Kwankwaso gave the warning when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series in Abuja on Sunday.
The former Kano State governor said some governors who had failed to adequately address the concerns of their constituents were defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), allegedly believing that the party’s political machinery would guarantee their return to office.
He argued that growing dissatisfaction over insecurity, poverty, unemployment and declining public services could significantly influence voters’ decisions during the 2027 elections.
Kwankwaso said Nigerians were becoming increasingly politically conscious and could reject governors and other politicians seeking fresh mandates despite their control of government structures.
“What I foresee in the 2027 elections is that most of the governors seeking re-election will be disappointed because people will not support them,” he said.
He maintained that Nigerians had legitimate reasons to demand better governance, pointing to the large number of children out of school and the impact of insecurity on communities across the country.
Kwankwaso recalled that during his tenure as governor of Kano State, his administration prioritised education by expanding access to primary, secondary and tertiary education for qualified residents.
He said his administration also implemented programmes aimed at addressing the Almajiri challenge and invested in educational infrastructure, including student hostels.
According to him, his experience in Kano demonstrated that governments could significantly improve the welfare of citizens when available resources were properly prioritised.
The former governor also criticised the growing movement of opposition politicians into the APC, describing the defections as attempts by some politicians to secure political advantage ahead of the 2027 elections.
He questioned the belief among some politicians that joining the ruling party would automatically guarantee electoral victory, arguing that the electorate would ultimately determine who wins at the polls.
Kwankwaso expressed confidence that voters would exercise their constitutional power during the 2027 elections and decide the fate of governors and other political office holders based on their performance and responsiveness to the needs of the people.
He maintained that control of political structures alone would not be enough to overcome growing public dissatisfaction with governance and the socioeconomic challenges facing Nigerians.
