Supporters of Rabiu Kwankwaso chanted the name of Peter Obi as the former Anambra governor attended the annual Kwankwasiyya Eid festival in Kano on Sunday.
The crowd, many dressed in the signature red caps associated with the Kwankwasiyya movement, repeatedly hailed both leaders as they acknowledged cheers and addressed attendees during the celebration.
Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), hosted Obi as part of the Eid-el-Fitr festivities. The gathering also drew other prominent figures, including Seyi Makinde and Seriake Dickson.
Speaking at the event, Obi emphasised that his visit was not politically motivated but centred on the Sallah celebration and showing respect to Kwankwaso.
“I’m here to felicitate with you on the occasion of Sallah and to pay my respect to our leader,” Obi said.
He also highlighted the need to revive Kano’s once-thriving industrial sector, pointing to areas such as Bompai and Sharada.
“We want to change Kano. We want to build a new Kano,” he said.
“What we want to do is bring back the power of Kano — all those factories in Bompai, Sharada 1, Sharada 2, Bank of the North—we want to bring all of them back. Today is not politics; it is the celebration of Sallah.”
The development comes amid ongoing political speculation about a possible Obi-Kwankwaso alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
While Obi has recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kwankwaso has maintained that he would only consider leaving the NNPP if assured of either the presidential or vice-presidential ticket on another platform.
