Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has declared that former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso faces a stark political reality that could effectively end his presidential ambitions if he makes the wrong alliance ahead of 2027.
In a detailed analysis issued on Sunday, January 25, Keyamo argued that Kwankwaso’s age and Nigeria’s rotation convention have created a narrow window for his presidential dreams, with 2031 potentially being his last realistic opportunity.
The minister stated bluntly that supporting any northern presidential candidate in 2027 would be political suicide for Kwankwaso’s own ambitions.
“Kwankwaso will not support a Northern candidate because that ends his own Presidential ambition since he may have to wait for another 16 years after 2027 to get a shot at the Presidency – 8 likely years for the Northern Candidate and another 8 likely years when it rotates to the South again,” Keyamo said.
“That’s a gamble he WILL NOT TAKE. He will be 86 years old by then. So, this entirely rules out an ATIKU-Kwankwaso cooperation in 2027.”
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The minister warned that Kwankwaso’s New Nigeria Peoples Party remains “a one-State Party” and with Governor Abba Yusuf’s defection to the APC, the NNPP’s grip on Kano State is seriously threatened.
“If his grip on Kano slips in 2027, it will water down his clout and influence in 2031 to be handed a Presidential ticket by any of the major Political parties.
“This is the time he can cash in on his presumed dominance of Kano politics and take a chance,” Keyamo stated.
The aviation minister outlined three possible alliance options for Kwankwaso, PDP, APC, or Labour Party, but noted each requires him to suspend his 2027 presidential ambition until 2031, when power is expected to return to the North.
Keyamo concluded that without joining forces with a major party, Kwankwaso risks becoming politically irrelevant, comparing his situation to late President Buhari’s pre-merger struggles with the defunct Congress for Progressive Change.