Efforts by opposition parties to field a single presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election have suffered a setback after Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso ruled out withdrawing from the race in favour of African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Atiku Abubakar.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, said he and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi would not step aside for the ADC or any other party. He maintained that the NDC ticket was confident in its ability and readiness to lead Nigeria.
In a statement on his X handle, Kwankwaso dismissed allegations that the NDC candidates planned to withdraw from the race and form an alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the claims as unfounded and an attempt at blackmail.
Obi and Atiku were running mates under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 presidential election but parted ways before the 2023 poll. Atiku retained the PDP ticket, while Obi contested under the Labour Party. Both lost to Tinubu.
Ahead of the 2027 election, the two opposition figures had participated in discussions aimed at forming a coalition to challenge the president. After Atiku defected from the PDP to the ADC, Obi and his supporters also joined the party.
However, Obi later moved to the NDC, where he teamed up with Kwankwaso as the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively. Their decision complicated efforts to unite opposition parties behind one candidate.
The latest coalition initiative was led by the G-100, a group convened by former Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman.
Lukman said discussions had expanded beyond the ADC and NDC to include four other political parties. He expressed hope that a broad alliance could be established ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
He said the G-100 intended to announce a common direction for the participating parties and attract wider support. However, disagreements between the ADC and NDC, alongside the reluctance of Atiku and Obi to withdraw for each other, have complicated the process.
Kwankwaso also criticised the ADC Presidential Campaign Council for what he described as unnecessary attacks on him, Obi and the NDC. He accused the campaign team of portraying the NDC ticket as an APC-backed project or suggesting that it would withdraw in favour of Atiku at the last minute.
He said the NDC intended to campaign on the candidates’ competence, credibility, capacity and records of achievement rather than concentrate on attacking political opponents.
Kwankwaso urged the ADC campaign team to respond to allegations made against Atiku by Vice-President Kashim Shettima instead of targeting the NDC leadership. He insisted that the party was not working for the APC or any of its candidates.
The former governor criticised both the APC-led administration and the ADC, arguing that neither had presented the alternative Nigerians needed. He described the NDC ticket as a credible option with support across Northern and Southern Nigeria.
He pledged that an NDC-led government would address insecurity, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and economic challenges, while urging Nigerians to support the party’s candidates.
Cracks in the opposition
The ADC, however, accused Kwankwaso of aligning with the ruling APC through his criticism of Atiku.
The party argued that rather than focus on holding Tinubu’s administration accountable, the NDC vice-presidential candidate had repeatedly targeted the opposition party and its presidential candidate.
ADC Presidential Campaign Council Director of Media and Publicity Kola Ologbondiyan described Kwankwaso’s response as diversionary, questioning why he was focusing on Atiku instead of confronting the ruling party.
Ologbondiyan said opposition leaders should concentrate on holding the APC-led government accountable for the country’s challenges. He added that the ADC would not be distracted by Kwankwaso’s remarks.
He further alleged that Kwankwaso was attacking the ADC to gain favour with the ruling party, while maintaining that the party would continue mobilising Nigerians around its promise to offer an alternative to the Tinubu administration.