Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is supporting talks aimed at forming a joint presidential ticket between former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next election.
The talks are centred within the African Democratic Congress, where Obi recently moved after leaving the Labour Party. Findings show that Obi and Kwankwaso have set up a joint committee to work out the details of a possible alliance, including how to secure the party’s presidential and vice-presidential tickets. Party sources say the discussions have moved beyond speculation and are already in progress.
Obasanjo is said to be playing a key role behind the scenes by linking Obi with Kwankwaso and also reaching out to political figures in the North to build support for the plan. This move follows his open backing of Obi during the 2023 presidential election and his long-standing working relationship with Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence under his administration.
At the moment, Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi are all presidential hopefuls within the ADC. Kwankwaso has not officially joined the party, but discussions on his possible defection are ongoing. Reports suggest that Kwankwaso is only willing to join if he secures either the presidential or vice-presidential slot.
Leaders of the Kwankwasiyya Movement have confirmed that talks with Obi are active and that a committee made up of members from both camps is working to move the alliance forward. Some members of Obi’s camp also believe zoning the presidential ticket to the South will improve the party’s chances against the incumbent president.
However, the ADC leadership says it is not officially aware of any alliance agreement yet, even though it has expressed readiness to welcome Kwankwaso into the party. Atiku’s camp has also played down the development, saying he is not worried about any alliance and remains focused on his own political plans.
Supporters of Obi, known as the Obidient Movement, have welcomed the talks, describing a possible Obi–Kwankwaso partnership as a strong force ahead of 2027. As consultations continue across regions and party lines, attention is now on how these talks will shape the opposition’s strategy against President Tinubu in the next general election.
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