Obi, Kwankwaso Visit Sultan And Sokoto City Amidst Massive Crowd, Make Promises On Unity, Insecurity, Hardship
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, H.E. Peter Obi, and Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, in Sokoto.
At the visit on Monday, the NDC candidates engaged with the Sultan, who urged peaceful politics and national unity over division.
They offered condolences for the Sardauna of Sokoto and joined a lively town hall, where Obi promised rail links between capitals, better education, security, jobs, and healthcare, while Kwankwaso addressed banditry in the North-West.
Writing on X Twitter about the visit, Obi tweeted: “In the Caliphate with a Message of Hope for the Poor and Unity in Nigeria.
“Today, ahead of our town-hall engagements in Sokoto, Sokoto State, I had the privilege of paying a courtesy visit to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, alongside my brother and running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and members of our team.
“We used the opportunity of the visit to condole with him on the recent death of the Sardauna of Sokoto.
“In my remarks, I emphasised the urgent need to unite and secure our nation, tackle poverty, create employment, and rebuild confidence in our country.
“His Eminence warmly received us and spoke with the wisdom of a father and national leader. He recalled that he has known me for almost 46 years, since 1980, when I was in my first year at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and has maintained a cordial relationship since then.
“He reminded us that leadership comes from Almighty Allah and carries a responsibility for which we will ultimately be held accountable. He also mentioned three critical priorities for Nigeria: security, poverty, and employment.
“He additionally reminded us that our diversity of tribes, tongues, and faiths is part of God’s creation and should be our strength, not our weakness. We do not seek to Islamise or Christianise anyone. We seek to build a Nigeria where every citizen can live safely, prosper, and have a genuine sense of belonging.
“May Almighty God continue to bless His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, the people of Sokoto State, and our beloved Nigeria.”
A statement signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka on behalf of the Sultan’s Media Team said:
“In continuation of his commitment to providing himself as a father figure to all Nigerians aspiring to political offices in 2027 without favouritism, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Monday, September 28, 2026, received the Presidential Candidate and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, respectively, in his palace in Sokoto City, Sokoto State.”
The statement further explained that the Sultan’s position was not limited to one political group, as he had also received other political actors preparing for the 2027 election.
The latest meeting came about two weeks after the Sultan hosted the All Progressives Congress, APC, 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, led by its Director-General, Senator Abdul-Aziz Abubakar Yari, on September 14, 2026.
After the palace meeting, Obi and Kwankwaso proceeded to engage residents and party supporters in a town hall meeting where issues including insecurity, poverty, education and national development featured in their discussions.
