Kano — In a candid retrospective on the 2023 general elections, the National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has provided a rare glimpse into the internal family dynamics that shaped his political outlook during the last transition cycle. Speaking during an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with Charles Aniagolu on Arise Television on Monday, May 11, 2026, the veteran politician revealed that the pressure for a strategic alliance with Peter Obi came from within his own household.
According to Kwankwaso, his daughter was among those who strongly advocated for a partnership between the Kwankwasiyya movement and the "Obidient" movement spearheaded by the Labour Party candidate. The revelation serves as a testament to the shifting tides of Nigerian politics, where traditional ideological leanings are increasingly being challenged by the generational perspectives of younger voters—even within the families of the political elite.
Kwankwaso used the interview to highlight what he described as a fundamental disconnect between Nigeria’s established political class and the rapidly evolving reality of the country's youth-driven landscape. He noted that many leaders remain entrenched in archaic methods of mobilization, failing to recognize that social media and digital connectivity have fundamentally altered the "market square" of political ideas.
"So many things have changed in this country," Kwankwaso remarked during the session. "We have leaders, many of them do not even realize what is happening on social media. We have leaders who don’t have any contact with the young men and women. People of your age and my age, especially the age of Atiku, are very few in this country—comparatively with the younger people. The demographics have shifted, but the mindset of the leadership has largely remained static."
The former governor argued that while the older generation of politicians continues to rely on the tired tropes of religion and ethnicity to maintain their grip on power, the younger generation is operating on a different wavelength. He suggested that younger Nigerians are far more open-minded, prioritizing competence, accountability, and good governance over the parochial interests that have dominated Nigerian discourse since the return to democracy in 1999.
This generational shift, Kwankwaso admitted, was evident even in his own living room during the heat of the 2023 campaign. He recalled how his daughter confronted him with the suggestion that he should collaborate with Peter Obi, a move that many believed could have created a formidable third force against the established machinery of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
"The younger people have their own way of thinking," Kwankwaso said with a reflective smile. "Even our children, you’ll be surprised. In the 2023 election, in my own house, my own daughter was telling me to go and work with Peter Obi. She didn’t even say she was 'Obidient,' but she wanted me to work together with him. It shows you that the youth are looking for synergy and results, not just the traditional power blocs."
He went further to illustrate the pervasive nature of these new political identities, suggesting that the "Kwankwasiyya" and "Obidient" movements have crossed regional and social boundaries in ways that the traditional elite often fail to perceive. He warned that many prominent individuals in the South might be living with "Kwankwasiyya" supporters without even knowing it, just as Northerners might be surrounded by Obi supporters.
"You’d be surprised that even in your own house or anybody’s house in the South, there may be Kwankwasiyya people there and you wouldn’t know," he explained. "Maybe your watchman is Kwankwasiyya, maybe your houseboy who cooks for you is a Kwankwasiyya, and unless he knows you’re interested, he will not tell you because he doesn’t want to offend you. This is the reality of the new Nigerian politics; it is decentralized and deeply personal."
The interview comes at a time when the NNPP is undergoing a period of introspection and restructuring ahead of the 2027 local and national contests. Kwankwaso’s comments suggest a growing awareness that the path to future victory must involve a more deliberate engagement with the youth demographic and perhaps a more flexible approach to cross-regional alliances.
Political analysts have frequently pointed to the failed merger talks between Kwankwaso and Obi in late 2022 as a pivotal "what if" moment in Nigerian history. While both leaders eventually ran separate campaigns—splitting the votes that might have otherwise challenged the eventual winner—Kwankwaso’s latest remarks confirm that the grassroots pressure for such a union was immense, reaching even the highest levels of his private life.
As the conversation shifted toward the future, Kwankwaso emphasized that the era of "politics as usual" is coming to a close. He noted that with the advent of social media, political supporters are now spread across the globe, creating a diaspora influence that adds another layer of complexity to domestic elections. He urged his contemporaries to step out of their comfort zones and begin a genuine dialogue with the youth, rather than merely treating them as tools for electioneering.
For the Kwankwasiyya leader, the lesson of 2023 is clear: the youth are no longer just followers; they are the new architects of political strategy. By revealing his daughter’s advice, Kwankwaso has signaled a willingness to listen to these new voices, even as the nation begins to look toward the horizon of the next electoral cycle. Whether this newfound appreciation for youth sentiment will lead to the alliances that were missed in the past remains to be seen, but the "Red Cap" leader has made it clear that he recognizes the world has changed.
