Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) could face a major setback in the 2027 elections, arguing that the growing number of governors backing President Bola Tinubu does not guarantee victory at the polls.

Kwankwaso said the ruling party had made serious political mistakes that would become apparent when Nigerians vote, expressing confidence that the opposition could capitalise on public dissatisfaction with the government.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former presidential candidate questioned why governors were rallying behind Tinubu, suggesting that their endorsements reflected doubts about their ability to win elections independently.

“I think a lot of mistakes were being made by the governors to the extent that they themselves believe that they are not competent enough to win elections on their own,” he said.

Kwankwaso added that Tinubu also appeared to need the governors’ support to secure a second term.

“Therefore, they had to lean towards the president. And I believe the president also believes that he can’t do it himself. He has to lean towards the governors,” he said.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain expressed confidence in the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 elections, claiming that its growing appeal was raising concerns among governors supporting Tinubu.

He said the popularity of the opposition’s presidential ticket had become difficult for political leaders to ignore.

“I believe that there is no governor who is not concerned about the popularity of our candidate, the ticket itself, and of course our party,” Kwankwaso said.

He predicted that the APC would recognise the consequences of its decisions when voters head to the polls.

“But I believe that on election day, they will realise that the APC has made very serious mistakes over the years,” he added.

Kwankwaso also pointed to insecurity and economic hardship as major issues that could influence voters’ decisions in 2027.

He said many Nigerians, particularly in the North, had been forced to leave their communities because of insecurity and had remained displaced for years.

The former Kano governor argued that the difficulties facing ordinary citizens could affect the ruling party’s electoral fortunes, regardless of the number of governors supporting the President.