‘I Will Oppose It’ – Ex-US Mayor Rejects Obi-Kwankwaso 2027 Presidential Ticket

A former United States mayor, Mike Arnold, has openly rejected any possible political alliance between former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Arnold described the proposed pairing as a “national disaster,” insisting he would actively oppose any such ticket if it emerges in Nigeria’s next presidential race.

The former mayor made the remarks in a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night, May 25, 2026. He said he was not entirely opposed to Obi personally but warned that any alliance with Kwankwaso would change his position completely.

“No, I am not ok with Obi-Kwankwaso — and you shouldn’t be, either,” he wrote. “I like Peter Obi. I am not sold on him yet, but he has potential, and I have an open mind.

“What will close my mind instantly, without any wiggle room, is an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.”

Arnold argued that Nigeria needed a break from what he described as recycled political structures. He said the country could not afford “different gasoline running through the same engine,” insisting that old political arrangements were part of the problem.

He also launched a series of strong accusations against Kwankwaso, alleging links to extremist networks, Sharia enforcement policies, and corruption-related controversies.

In his statement, Arnold described Kwankwaso as politically entrenched in religious and traditional power structures, using highly critical language while claiming long-standing political loyalty patterns tied to northern institutions.

He further made references to Nigeria’s security history, including the post-9/11 era, alleging that sensitive defence operations involving multiple countries were known only to a small group of officials, including Kwankwaso during his time as Defence Minister. These claims were not independently verified.

Arnold also revisited past national tragedies, referencing the 2006 military aircraft crash that killed senior Nigerian Army officers and another crash involving the late Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Maccido, alongside members of his family.

“Incidentally, when the future Sultan was — as a senior officer of an OIC nation — operating in the shadows during the war on terror, his assignment from the Nigerian government was to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Every active jihadi theater of the post-9/11 era,” he said.

“A few weeks later, the sitting Sultan, his son and heir Senator Badamasi Maccido, and several grandchildren were killed in another plane crash. The Abuja airport radar was turned off when their plane went down.”

He also questioned the emergence of Sa’ad Abubakar as Sultan after Maccido’s death, alleging irregularities in succession.

Arnold extended his criticism to Kwankwaso’s time as Kano State governor, referencing the introduction of Sharia law and the creation of the Hisbah Board, which enforces religious compliance in the state.

“As Governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso formally declared Sharia law on June 21, 2000, and established the Hisbah Board — the religious enforcement agency that has been arresting Kano residents for ‘improper dress’ and ‘indecent mixing of the sexes’ ever since,” he stated.

He also claimed Kwankwaso faced electoral rejection in 2003 due to religious and political tensions in the state, before later being appointed Defence Minister.

On corruption allegations, Arnold referenced claims involving pension funds, EFCC investigations, and ongoing cases linked to associates of the former governor.

“When he returned as Kano Governor from 2011 to 2015, he left behind allegations that he misappropriated roughly N10 billion in pension contributions from Kano state workers,” he said.

He further alleged interference in investigations and mentioned a separate pharmaceutical procurement fraud case involving Kwankwaso’s relative.

Arnold concluded that any presidential ticket involving Kwankwaso would be unacceptable, regardless of who leads it.

“Sharia. Hisbah. Pension funds. Pharmaceutical contracts. The defence ministry during a genocide. A different party every cycle. And now the vice presidency.

“That is why I will actively oppose any ticket with Kwankwaso on it. No matter who is on top.

“Peter Obi, if you want my open mind, pick a running mate who is not a puppet of the Sultan.”