KANO, NIGERIA — The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has issued a stern warning to state governors attempting to restrict opposition parties from carrying out political and campaign activities in their states, describing such actions as a critical political miscalculation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in a video interview broadcast by News Central TV on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the former Kano State Governor cautioned that incumbent state executives who rely on state machinery to block political opponents from engaging with voters risk undermining their own electoral ambitions.
Kwankwaso pointed out that open democratic space and free movement across state lines were maintained during previous electoral cycles, allowing candidates from all political leanings to campaign without interference. He noted that restricting political engagement now creates dangerous precedents and ultimately alienates the electorate.
Highlighting the self-defeating nature of political blockades, Kwankwaso emphasized that political movements thrive on direct interaction with local communities. Denying opposition leaders the ability to present their policy programs directly to citizens damages the broader democratic process and risks turning voters against the ruling authorities.
“Those who think, especially the governors, that they can stop us from going to their states, I think they are making a big mistake,” Kwankwaso stated. “When we were campaigning for them in the last election, the governors then allowed people to go around, and in fact, what they are doing now is counterproductive to what they want to do; they want to win the election.”
His remarks come amid growing concern over rising political tensions, state-sponsored blockades, and campaign restrictions targeted at opposition figures across key states as political parties gear up for intense nationwide campaigning.
The NDC vice-presidential candidate’s warning underscores the increasingly fraught political environment as the 2027 elections approach. With the official campaign season now underway, opposition parties have accused some state governments of using security agencies and administrative machinery to frustrate their activities, a charge the governors deny.
Kwankwaso urged all political actors to respect the democratic space and allow free and fair competition, warning that any attempt to stifle opposition voices would ultimately backfire at the polls. He reiterated the NDC’s commitment to issue-based campaigning and urged its supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding as they engage with voters across the country.
