The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has faulted Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s criticism of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that most of the figures he cited were correct.
Shettima had described Obi as “the master of bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions” during Wednesday’s inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He also mocked Obi’s comparisons between Nigeria and other countries, particularly Bangladesh, arguing that policies suitable for one country might not work for another.
However, speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Kwankwaso said he regularly checked the statistics cited by Obi and found most of them accurate.
“What else would you expect him to say?” the former Kano State governor asked, reacting to Shettima’s remarks.
He acknowledged that Obi, like other people, could make mistakes but maintained that the vice-president was wrong to dismiss his figures.
Kwankwaso also praised Obi’s knowledge of development statistics, describing it as an advantage for someone seeking the presidency.
He said he was pleased that the NDC presidential candidate was conversant with data relating to Nigeria and other countries across Europe and Asia.
The former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party also explained that shared policy objectives informed his decision to join forces with Obi ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to him, both politicians recognised similarities in their visions for Nigeria and agreed to work together across regional lines.
“We realised all our vision for the country was similar, and it was easy for us to say, ‘Okay, let’s work together as leaders from the South and the North to ensure the success of the party and, by extension, the country,’” he said.
Kwankwaso also said the NDC intended to pursue measures to reduce energy costs, arguing that high petrol and electricity prices continued to place pressure on households and businesses.
He said the party had reviewed its position on petrol subsidy removal in response to its economic consequences.
“Our collective position now is that the price of energy is too high. And we are going to do whatever is necessary to bring about a positive change in the country,” he said.
On the 2027 election, Kwankwaso alleged that the APC might resort to electoral manipulation because of its perceived lack of popularity. He did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.
He also maintained that Obi’s appeal in the South, combined with the influence of his Kwankwasiyya movement in the North, could help the NDC build a national political platform.
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