Peter Obi's equal VP vision clashes with Nigerian constitution, says Mahdi Shehu
Peter Obi has announced Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, promising a government structure where the vice president operates as an equal partner rather than a "spare tyre." Speaking at the NDC national convention in Abuja, Obi emphasized that decisions would be made collaboratively and that both individuals would be consulted for the nation's greatness. However, public commentator Mahdi Shehu has criticized this vision, arguing that the Nigerian constitution places the vice president in a subordinate position to the president, not as an equal authority. Shehu described the vice president as an "appendix that can be removed at the president's discretion" and warned that political realities, including powerful cabals, would prevent a truly equal partnership from functioning effectively. This constitutional debate highlights the tension between proposed governance reforms and Nigeria's existing legal framework as the 2027 election approaches.