Vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said he is confident that presidential candidate Peter Obi would not treat him as a “spare tyre” if their ticket wins the 2027 presidential election.
Kwankwaso made the comment while speaking about the relationship between a president and vice-president, amid longstanding concerns in Nigerian politics over the limited influence sometimes associated with the office of the vice-president.
The former Kano State governor said he was not worried about the possibility of being sidelined by Obi, stressing that he believes the proposed political partnership is based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to national development.
His comments come as the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket continues to position itself as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Kwankwaso has previously explained that his decision to accept the vice-presidential position was influenced by the need for national balance, equity and political change.
The NDC ticket has also sought to reassure Nigerians that the proposed president-vice-president relationship would be based on partnership rather than rivalry.
The “spare tyre” description has historically been used in Nigerian political discourse to describe a vice-president who has little influence in an administration.
Kwankwaso’s latest comments therefore seek to address concerns about whether the proposed NDC ticket would maintain an effective working relationship if elected.