Vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s control of more than 30 states will not guarantee President Bola Tinubu victory in the 2027 presidential election.

Kwankwaso made the remarks on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during an NDC town hall meeting where he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, fielded questions on the party’s chances in the 2027 general election.

Drawing from the 2015 presidential election, Kwankwaso noted that former President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election bid despite being the incumbent and leading a party that controlled about 20 states at the time.

According to results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Jonathan won 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while Muhammadu Buhari, the APC candidate, won 21 states. Eleven of the states won by Buhari were controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the election.

Kwankwaso said the outcome demonstrated that the number of governors controlled by a political party does not automatically translate into victory at the presidential level.

“Jonathan was the sitting president and he lost the election. Those who think that because they have over 30 governors they cannot lose are making a very big mistake,” he said.

The APC currently controls about 31 states, having expanded its political influence since Tinubu defeated Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.

Kwankwaso also criticised the performance of several governors, particularly in northern Nigeria, accusing many of them of failing to deliver meaningful development to their constituents.

“The trend is that those governors and their parties have performed woefully. It is difficult for many of them to even come out and campaign because, from top to bottom, they did absolutely nothing,” he said.

The former Kano State governor further argued that Nigeria needs a president with the experience, commitment and capacity to tackle the country’s numerous challenges.

He urged Nigerians to make what he described as the right political choice in 2027, warning that another wrong decision could have serious consequences for the country.

“This is the time to get it right. Anything to the contrary, if people make a mistake, they will regret making that mistake because it will be too costly for the people and the country,” Kwankwaso said.

Also speaking at the event, the NDC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, commended party members for their patience, resilience and commitment to the movement.

Lulu-Briggs expressed confidence that the NDC would build “a Nigeria that works” and assured the party’s national leadership of the unwavering support of its members in Rivers State.