Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso turned 70 on Wednesday 21 October 2026, and the tributes came from both sides of the 2027 contest.
Tinubu: different parties, same friendship
In a message issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu congratulated the former Kano governor and said their political differences would not diminish his affection for him. Tinubu traced their relationship to the National Assembly in 1992, noted that both became governors in 1999, and recalled that their paths came together again when both joined the APC in 2013. They are now on opposite sides: Kwankwaso is the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, running against Tinubu on Peter Obi’s ticket.
Obi and Yusuf
Peter Obi said he valued their relationship and their shared commitment to national development, calling the birthday “an opportunity to reflect on a life devoted to public service.” Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf called it an occasion “to celebrate his life, leadership and contributions,” crediting Kwankwaso with infrastructure and with drawing more people into politics in Kano.
A long career
Kwankwaso has served as Governor of Kano State twice, from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015, and as Minister of Defence, and he was the NNPP’s presidential candidate in 2023. His Kwankwasiyya movement has a large following in Kano, which makes him central both to the NDC’s chances and to the opposition’s stalled unity talks.
