‘Power Won’t Be Shared as Political Reward’ – Kwankwaso Rules Out Patronage Under Obi Presidency

• Kwankwaso says an Obi-led administration will end the culture of rewarding political loyalists with public appointments, insisting competence and national interest will determine who serves in government.

• NDC vice-presidential candidate pledges swift constitution of cabinet after inauguration, arguing that delays in forming government waste valuable time needed to deliver campaign promises.

• Former Kano governor dismisses fears of becoming a ceremonial vice-president, expressing confidence that Peter Obi will delegate responsibilities and build an administration founded on trust and teamwork.

• Ex-Defence Minister says effective governance requires technocrats, professionals and experienced politicians working together, not leaders driven by personal ambition or the desire to control every aspect of government.

August 16, () — The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has declared that political loyalty will no longer be a passport to public office if his party wins the 2027 presidential election, vowing that appointments into government positions would be based strictly on competence, experience and the needs of the nation.

Kwankwaso also dismissed concerns that he could end up as a ceremonial vice-president in a Peter Obi administration, insisting that the NDC presidential candidate believes in teamwork and would entrust meaningful responsibilities to his deputy to ensure effective governance.

The former Kano State governor made the remarks while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series in Abuja on Sunday, where he outlined what he described as the NDC’s governance philosophy ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to him, Nigeria can no longer afford the culture of distributing government appointments as political compensation, arguing that the country’s numerous economic, security and governance challenges require competent hands capable of delivering results.

“If the NDC wins the 2027 election, appointments will be based primarily on competence and the needs of the country, not because someone is politically connected or personally close to those in power,” Kwankwaso said.

He maintained that governance extends beyond the offices of the president and vice-president, stressing that an administration can only succeed when supported by experienced technocrats, professionals and politicians with proven capacity.

“Power will be shared according to the needs of the country. Technocrats and qualified politicians with prerequisite knowledge will be appointed,” he stated.

Kwankwaso, a trained civil engineer and former civil servant, said specialised ministries require individuals with relevant technical expertise, adding that the NDC would deliberately assemble a team capable of delivering measurable results across ministries, departments and agencies.

He argued that technocrats should not necessarily be viewed as individuals outside Politics, noting that many politicians possess distinguished professional backgrounds and administrative experience that qualify them for public service.

The former Defence Minister, further pledged that an NDC government would move quickly to constitute its cabinet after inauguration, warning that prolonged delays in appointing ministers often deny new administrations the opportunity to maximise their constitutionally guaranteed four-year tenure.

He said every day in office counts for elected officials expected to fulfil campaign promises.

“We have only four years to deliver. Government must begin work immediately after inauguration,” he said.

Kwankwaso reiterated that competence, experience and capacity would remain the overriding considerations in selecting appointees, adding that Nigerians deserve a government driven by performance rather than patronage.

Rejects ‘Spare Tyre’ Vice Presidency

Obi, Kwankwaso – NEWS MEDIA” fetchpriority=”high” decoding=”async” class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-460110″ src=”https://thewillnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5851.jpeg” alt=”Two men sit on a white couch at a Nigerian political event; left man in blue shirt and cap looking at a tablet, right man in white traditional attire with a red cap and badge, both wearing red lanyards.” width=”1080″ height=”720″ srcset=”https://thewillnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5851.jpeg 1080w, https://thewillnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5851-300×200.jpeg 300w, https://thewillnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5851-1024×683.jpeg 1024w, https://thewillnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5851-630×420.jpeg 630w, https://thewillnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5851-150×100.jpeg 150w, https://thewillnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5851-696×464.jpeg 696w, https://thewillnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5851-1068×712.jpeg 1068w” sizes=”(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px”/>Speaking on concerns that vice-presidents in Nigeria are frequently reduced to ceremonial figures with little influence, Kwankwaso said he was not worried about becoming a “spare tyre” in an Obi administration.

According to him, the effectiveness of any vice-president depends largely on the disposition of the president and the level of trust that exists between both leaders.

He expressed confidence that Peter Obi would honour the understanding reached between them and operate an administration founded on cooperation, mutual respect and effective delegation of responsibilities.

“A president who trusts his vice-president and gives him meaningful responsibilities can achieve more for the country. And for me, I don’t think I will be sidelined by His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, if we win the 2027 election,” he said.

Kwankwaso described Obi as a leader motivated by service rather than personal ambition, saying the NDC presidential candidate is focused on leaving behind a lasting legacy of good governance.

He stressed that his interest in serving as vice-president was not about occupying a political office but contributing meaningfully to national development.

“I will be satisfied with whatever responsibilities are assigned to me because my priority is to serve Nigerians, not personal aggrandisement,” he said.

Drawing from his experience in government, Kwankwaso recalled that while serving as Governor of Kano State, he deliberately empowered his deputy by assigning substantial responsibilities, a strategy he said improved governance and accelerated decision-making.

He said he adopted a similar leadership approach during his tenure as Minister of Defence by allowing the Minister of State to oversee specific responsibilities within the ministry.

The former governor warned against leaders attempting to monopolise power, arguing that greed and excessive control often undermine good governance.

According to him, administrations perform better when responsibilities are shared among capable officials working towards common national objectives.

He maintained that the success of an Obi-Kwankwaso administration would ultimately depend on teamwork, professionalism, mutual trust and the willingness of leaders to place Nigeria’s interests above personal ambition.

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Background

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) will contest the 2027 presidential election with former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as its presidential candidate and former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as his running mate.

Since unveiling its ticket, the party has consistently projected itself as a reform-driven political platform committed to institutional reforms, prudent management of public resources, inclusive governance and merit-based appointments.