The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has called for stronger political collaboration between Northern Nigeria and the South-East, urging both regions to rekindle their longstanding alliance in the interest of national unity.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Igbo published on the broadcaster’s Facebook page on Wednesday, Kwankwaso said Nigeria’s political history demonstrated that reconciliation and cooperation had always been key to national stability, particularly in the years following the Civil War.
He stressed that Nigerians must embrace forgiveness and work together regardless of ethnic or regional differences, describing the South-East as a long-time political ally of the North.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s First Republic, Kwankwaso recalled the alliance between the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, as an example of inclusive politics.
He also pointed to the Second Republic, noting that President Shehu Shagari and the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) maintained close political ties with leaders from the South-East, a relationship that culminated in the emergence of the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme as Nigeria’s Vice President.
According to him, political leaders after the Civil War deliberately sought to reintegrate the South-East into national politics, demonstrating that unity was more beneficial than division.
Kwankwaso praised the late Ekwueme as a trusted friend of the North, recalling that he attended the former vice president’s burial in Oko, Anambra State.
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He also cited the return of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from exile, saying Northern political leaders at the time encouraged his return and participation in democratic politics as a symbol of reconciliation.
Kwankwaso maintained that strengthening relations with the South-East should not be interpreted as hostility toward any other geopolitical zone, insisting that all parts of the country remain partners in nation-building.
He added that no political bloc could successfully govern Nigeria by relying solely on regional, ethnic or religious interests, stressing that broad-based alliances remain essential for electoral success and national cohesion.
His remarks come as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general election, with Kwankwaso running as the vice-presidential candidate of the NDC alongside the party’s presidential flag bearer, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.