Veteran politician and NNPP stalwart Buba Galadima has challenged Nigeria’s political elite, insisting that former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is the only leader who can secure an entire state’s backing in a truly free and fair election.
Appearing on Prime Time, Galadima accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the political terrain ahead of the 2027 general elections and warned that any attempt to impose a compromised electoral umpire could provoke widespread unrest.
“People call Kwankwaso a local champion. Can you name one politician, including the president, who can confidently deliver his state in a free and fair election?” Galadima asked.
“Tinubu lost Lagos. Buhari once lost in his own state. Kwankwaso is the generalissimo of Nigerian politics.”
Galadima alleged that the APC’s early political maneuvers, including rumors of nominating a controversial retired judge as the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), signal a strategy to ‘dismember’ the opposition before the official campaign season begins.
“This government is not ready for a free and fair election. From their antics and destabilizing opposition parties, they don’t want any challenge,” he said. “If they don’t change their style, they will lose.”
He accused INEC of lacking independence, claiming that the commission’s cancellation of NNPP victories in recent Kano by-elections was politically motivated despite confirmation from security agencies that the polls were peaceful.
Galadima condemned the use of security forces in electoral contests, pointing to Zamfara State’s Kaura Namoda by-election where, he alleged, “over 30,000 soldiers were deployed” while bandits continued to terrorize nearby communities unchecked.
“What has the military got to do with elections? Why fight for one transient individual?” he asked. “The executive controls both the legislature and the judiciary. Where are the checks and balances?”
Kwankwaso, who polled over a million votes in 2023 and dominated Kano, one of Nigeria’s most populous states has long been seen by analysts as a potential kingmaker or presidential contender. Galadima argued that the NNPP’s performance in Kano proves that dismissing Kwankwaso as a regional player underestimates his national reach.
“Over eight million registered voters are in Kano,” Galadima said. “With what figure did Tinubu win nationwide? Eight million plus. If all Kano voters turned out, the man controlling Kano could be president.”
He dismissed speculation that Kwankwaso was negotiating with President Bola Tinubu after rumors of a recent meeting between the two men.
“He didn’t. Whoever says that is lying,” Galadima insisted. “Kwankwaso has not seen Tinubu since Paris, when he was forming his government. People spread that to bring him down.”
Galadima suggested that opposition parties, including the NNPP, PDP, and ADC, must overcome personal ambition to challenge the APC in 2027.
“I could have wished all of us come together to save the country,” he said. “But selfishness stops alliances. We all know the combinations that can dislodge this government. If we unite, by 9 a.m. on election day, the incumbents should be packing their bags.”
The comments come amid rising political tension and public dissatisfaction over economic hardship and insecurity.
Analysts note that the APC, still grappling with fuel subsidy removal backlash and a depreciating currency, faces increasing scrutiny over governance and democratic standards.
Galadima’s blunt assessment reflects growing unease among opposition figures who fear that Nigeria’s democratic institutions could be further weakened. His insistence that “Only Kwankwaso is the generalissimo” is both a rallying cry for NNPP supporters and a pointed warning to ruling party strategists ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested 2027 election cycle.