Hopes of a unified opposition presidential candidate for the 2027 election suffered a fresh setback on Sunday as Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso declared that he and presidential candidate Peter Obi would not withdraw from the race in favour of African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Atiku Abubakar or any other contender.
In a statement posted on his X handle, Kwankwaso dismissed reports that the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) ticket was preparing to step aside for the ADC or form an alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Let me state clearly and unequivocally: we will not withdraw our candidature for the ADC or any other party. We remain confident in our capacity, competence, and readiness to lead Nigeria,” he said.
“The OK ticket is neither working for nor acting on behalf of the APC or any of its candidates. We see no possibility or reason to withdraw from the presidential race in favour of the ADC candidate or any other. These claims are unfounded and should be treated as such.”
Kwankwaso accused the ADC Presidential Campaign Council of blackmail and unnecessary attacks on him, Obi and the NDC. He said the party was focused on presenting its candidates’ records rather than trading insults, and urged the ADC to respond to allegations levelled against Atiku by Vice-President Kashim Shettima instead of targeting the NDC.
He described both the APC-led government and the ADC as failing to offer Nigerians a genuine alternative, while positioning the NDC ticket as a credible option with support across the North and South that would tackle insecurity, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and the economy.
The African Democratic Congress quickly pushed back. Its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, dismissed Kwankwaso’s statement as diversionary and accused him of aligning with the APC by repeatedly attacking Atiku rather than holding President Bola Tinubu’s administration accountable.
“Why is Senator Kwankwaso making our candidate the issue instead of confronting the ruling APC?” Ologbondiyan asked. He alleged that the former Kano governor’s criticisms were designed to curry favour with the ruling party and insisted the ADC would not be distracted from mobilising Nigerians around its alternative agenda.
The exchange highlights deepening cracks in opposition efforts to present a single candidate against Tinubu. Obi and Atiku were running mates on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in 2019 before parting ways; Atiku retained the PDP nomination in 2023 while Obi ran on the Labour Party platform. Both lost to Tinubu.
Ahead of 2027, Atiku defected to the ADC while Obi and his supporters initially moved there before Obi later joined the NDC and teamed up with Kwankwaso. Coalition talks, including those led by the G-100 group convened by Salihu Lukman, have sought to expand discussions beyond the ADC and NDC to other parties, but mutual reluctance by Atiku and Obi to step aside has complicated the process.