“No spare tyre”— Obi unveils Kwankwaso as VP, promises equal partnership in NDC government

Peter Obi has formally named former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, declaring he will run an inclusive government where the vice president functions as an “equal partner”.

The NDC presidential candidate announced Kwankwaso at the party’s national convention in Abuja on Saturday, May 31, 2026, ending months of speculation about his alliance plans.

—“Decisions will be taken as partners”—

Obi said the NDC government he intends to form will break from the tradition of relegating VPs to ceremonial roles.

“The government we intend to form will no longer be a government where anybody will say that the vice president is a spare tyre,” Obi told delegates.

“The vice president will be a partner because we want to build a nation where there are two equal people who work for the greatness of the country. Decisions will be taken as partners. Everybody will be consulted.”

He then invited Kwankwaso to the podium as NDC vice-presidential candidate.

—2023 rivals team up for 2027—

Obi and Kwankwaso were both presidential candidates in 2023. Obi ran under Labour Party, LP, and finished 3rd. Kwankwaso contested on New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, platform, finished 4th, but swept Kano where he retains strong political influence.

The pair quit African Democratic Congress, ADC, on May 3, citing “uncertainties” over the party’s future, before defecting to NDC.

Obi restated his pledge to serve only one four-year term if elected. He said his administration would focus on cutting wastage and reducing cost of governance.

—Shared ideals on education, security—

Welcoming Kwankwaso, Obi said they share the same vision of “an egalitarian society where a child of nobody can become somebody”.

“He believes in education and security. And we will work together to ensure it happens,” Obi said.

With Kwankwaso’s Northwest structure combined with Obi’s national support base, the NDC ticket enters early 2027 calculations as a major opposition alignment.