Kwankwasiyya speaks on Obasanjo-Kwankwaso meeting amid rising 2027 permutations

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has dismissed growing political speculation surrounding the recent closed-door meeting between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, describing the encounter as routine and unsurprising given the long-standing relationship between the two political leaders.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with P.M. NEWS on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Dr. Habibu Saleh Mohammed, said there was nothing unusual about the meeting, which has sparked discussions in Kano’s political circles over its possible implications for the 2027 general elections.

Mohammed confirmed that Kwankwaso met with Obasanjo in Kano alongside the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in the state, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.

According to him, Obasanjo was in Kano primarily to attend the turbanning ceremony of prominent lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, and Kwankwaso merely extended the customary hospitality expected of a long-time political associate.

“Yes. Our leader, His Excellency Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, led the governorship candidate of the NDC in Kano, His Excellency Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, to former President Olusegun Obasanjo here in Kano,” Mohammed said.

“The former President was in Kano for the turbanning ceremony of Barrister Abubakar Mahmoud. You are aware that Senator Kwankwaso served as Defence Minister when Obasanjo was President. He also served as Governor of Kano State during Obasanjo’s tenure. The two leaders are very close.

“So, it is not a new thing for Senator Kwankwaso to ensure that the former President is at home and comfortable anytime he visits Kano.”

While acknowledging that political discussions may have featured during the meeting, Mohammed insisted such conversations should not be viewed as extraordinary.

“It is not also news if they discussed issues concerning the 2027 election cycle. Our leader was accompanied to meet with Obasanjo by our party’s governorship candidate, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo,” he added.

The meeting reportedly took place late Thursday at Obasanjo’s accommodation in Kano, where Kwankwaso introduced Gwarzo to the former president.

Although Obasanjo’s official visit was for the turbanning ceremony held at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, sources indicated that the three leaders also exchanged views on national political developments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kwankwaso later confirmed the meeting in a post on his verified X account on Friday.

“Last night, I paid a courtesy visit to our esteemed leader, His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, at his accommodation in Kano,” he wrote.

“I was accompanied by the former Deputy Governor and our gubernatorial candidate, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.”