The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has dismissed allegations that he is working for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kwankwaso clarified during an interview with Global TV on Wednesday night, describing the allegation as false and misleading while reacting to comments credited to the spokesperson of the Kano State Governor, Sanusi Bature.

The governor’s spokesman had allegedly claimed during an interview on Arise News that the former Kano governor was indirectly supporting Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

Responding to the allegation, Kwankwaso said only “foolish people” would believe such claims.

“I think only foolish people would believe that. We are not working for anybody. We are only working for NDC,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged his personal relationship with President Tinubu, describing him as a longtime friend and political associate, but stressed that such a friendship does not amount to political alignment.

“Bola Tinubu has been my senior brother and good friend up till now. But that doesn’t mean we shall pull all our political ideologies together with him. He is doing his own, and I am doing my own,” Kwankwaso said.

The former Defence Minister also criticised the current administration, alleging that the President may not be fully aware of the country’s realities due to the influence of those around him.

He said the situation makes governance difficult, adding that many advisers around the President were contributing to national challenges rather than solving them.

Kwankwaso further confirmed ongoing political consultations within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), stating that the coalition had agreed to support Peter Obi as its preferred southern presidential candidate.

According to him, the decision was reached after consultations across geopolitical zones, where the party reviewed potential candidates.

“We then decided to come together and work as a family. The party, in its own wisdom, decided to zone the presidential ticket to the south… we realised that Peter Obi is the best candidate,” he said.

He added that the coalition still had enough time to mobilise support ahead of the 2027 elections, noting that political engagement would intensify in the coming months.