ADC Ticket: Kwankwaso to Deputise Peter Obi as Former Military General Intervenes

Fresh indications have emerged that a joint presidential ticket involving former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is being seriously considered ahead of the 2027 general elections, as opposition leaders intensify efforts to forge a united front capable of challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

The proposed alliance, which would see Kwankwaso deputise Obi on the platform of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC), is understood to be part of a broader strategy to consolidate opposition votes and avoid a repeat of the fragmentation that undermined their chances in the 2023 presidential race. The development has reportedly been given fresh impetus by the intervention of influential elder statesmen, including a retired military general and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

 

Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023, and Kwankwaso, who flew the flag of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), were both first-time contenders on separate platforms in the last election. Despite running independently, both men recorded impressive performances that underscored their individual political strengths while also highlighting the cost of opposition disunity.

 

Obi polled over six million votes nationwide, securing victories in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos State and across the South-East. His campaign galvanised a largely youth-driven movement, particularly in urban centres, and reshaped the political conversation around accountability, governance and civic participation. Kwankwaso, on the other hand, delivered a landslide victory in Kano State, reaffirming his dominance in one of Nigeria’s most populous states through the formidable Kwankwasiyya political movement. He finished fourth overall but demonstrated his ability to mobilise a significant northern voting bloc.

 

Both camps had explored the possibility of an alliance before the 2023 election, but negotiations collapsed over disagreements on who would take the presidential slot and who would serve as running mate. That failure ultimately contributed to a split opposition vote, a factor widely believed to have benefited the APC.

 

Now, nearly two years after that election, sources say lessons from 2023 have prompted renewed efforts to reconcile the Obi and Kwankwaso camps. According to multiple sources familiar with the talks, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emerged as a key mediator, convinced that a united Obi–Kwankwaso ticket offers the opposition its best chance in 2027.

 

Daily Trust gathered that Obasanjo has been engaging both men behind the scenes and has reportedly been able to tentatively persuade Kwankwaso to consider accepting the vice-presidential slot. The former Kano State governor is said to be weighing the proposal carefully, mindful of his political stature and the expectations of his supporters.

 

While Obi formally joined the ADC about two weeks ago and has made no secret of his intention to contest the 2027 presidency, Kwankwaso remains officially in the NNPP. However, he told his supporters at the weekend that he was engaged in wide-ranging consultations and would soon make his next political move public.

 

This position was reinforced by one of Kwankwaso’s close aides, who confirmed to Daily Trust that “high-level discussions with key stakeholders across the political spectrum” were ongoing.

 

“While our party has not yet finalised its position or reached a full consensus on our path forward, we can confirm that we are engaged in high-level discussions with key stakeholders across the political spectrum, including political parties and individuals,” the aide said.

 

“Our position will very soon be known to the public. We firmly believe that Nigeria urgently requires a departure from the current environment characterised by rampant insecurity and the widespread collapse of essential systems.”

 

The aide was responding to enquiries about a reported meeting involving Kwankwaso, Obi and Obasanjo. While Kwankwaso neither confirmed nor denied the meeting, insiders say two strategic options are currently being pursued to ensure that an Obi–Kwankwaso ticket features prominently in the 2027 race.

 

The first option is to confront former Vice President Atiku Abubakar directly at the ADC primaries. Atiku, who has contested the presidency multiple times and retains significant influence within the party, is widely regarded as the major obstacle to any alternative ticket emerging from the ADC.

 

“Kwankwaso went to Abeokuta to meet Baba Obasanjo last week, and Baba told him to join the ADC and accept to be Obi’s vice,” one source disclosed. “This is similar to what General Ibrahim Babangida told him weeks earlier, although IBB did not go as far as discussing the vice-presidential slot. He only advised him to join the ADC.”

 

According to the source, the calculation is that current political momentum, both domestically and internationally, favours an Obi presidency. Obasanjo is said to be a strong promoter of Obi’s ambition, having previously recommended him to Atiku as his running mate in the 2019 election.

 

“The idea is for Obi and Kwankwaso to combine forces to challenge Atiku for the ADC ticket. They know Atiku will not back down easily and that the internal dynamics of party politics tend to favour him. Acting alone, neither Obi nor Kwankwaso may be able to defeat Atiku at the primaries. Together, they believe they stand a fighting chance,” the source added.

 

Promoters of the proposed ticket are also said to be considering a fallback plan. If the ADC primaries prove unfavourable, they may move the joint ticket to another political platform.

 

“They have agreed that if securing the ADC ticket becomes impossible, they will move to another party to actualise the joint ticket,” another source said.

 

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to get a reaction from the Atiku Media Office were unsuccessful. Calls to his media advisers, Paul Ibe and Phrank Shaibu, did not connect. Similarly, attempts to reach Yunusa Tanko, the national coordinator of the Obidient Movement and a key Obi ally, were unsuccessful.

 

Meanwhile, Kwankwaso has made it clear that he will not accept a secondary role without clear terms. Addressing supporters at the weekend, he said any merger or coalition must come with a definite offer of either the presidential or vice-presidential slot.

 

“At the national level, our hope is to merge with others, whether under the NNPP or any other platform. But those who want us must agree that I, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will be number one or number two,” he declared.

 

He also dismissed reports that Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, his political protégé, was planning to defect to the APC, insisting that there was no such pact and that he opposed any move to the ruling party.

 

Political analysts say the renewed push for an Obi–Kwankwaso ticket reflects a growing recognition that unity is essential if the opposition hopes to be competitive in 2027. Prof. Abubakar Kari of the University of Abuja described the ticket as “mouthwatering,” noting that it combines Obi’s appeal among youths and southern voters with Kwankwaso’s northern grassroots strength.

 

Dr Sam Amadi of the Abuja School of Political and Social Thought added that while the ticket has strong potential, its ultimate success will depend on broader northern alliances and the role played by Atiku.

 

“If the opposition fails to unite under a single platform, it risks repeating the mistakes of 2023,” Amadi warned, underscoring the high stakes of the ongoing negotiations as Nigeria edges closer to another pivotal election.