iDeemlawfulThe proposed political partnership between the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, for a joint 2027 presidential ticket has progressed significantly.
Investigations by Sunday PUNCH indicate that Obi and Kwankwaso have jointly constituted a committee to drive the realisation of the proposed joint ticket on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.
A senior official of the ADC disclosed that the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance was initially conceived by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to the party source, Obasanjo not only endorsed Obi’s move to the ADC but also advised the former Anambra State governor to partner with Kwankwaso in securing the party’s presidential and vice-presidential tickets.
MOST READ ARTICLES
Obasanjo openly supported Obi during the 2023 presidential race and mobilised backing for him nationwide against the All Progressives Congress candidate, now President Bola Tinubu.
In an open letter dated January 1, 2023, the former president stated, “None of the contestants is a saint, but when one compares their character, antecedents, understanding, knowledge, discipline and vitality they can bring to bear, and the great effort required to stay focused on the job—particularly looking at where the country is today—and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi, as a mentee, has an edge.”
Kwankwaso, meanwhile, served as Minister of Defence under Obasanjo during his second term in office.
At the same time, the former president has not concealed his disapproval of the presidential ambition of his former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
Currently, Atiku, Obi and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, are the three presidential hopefuls within the ADC, while consultations continue to persuade Kwankwaso to formally join the party.
Prior to his defection to the ADC, Obi pledged to serve only a single term if elected President, after which Kwankwaso indicated readiness to run as vice-presidential candidate.
Although Kwankwaso has not officially joined the ADC, Sunday PUNCH gathered that the Obi-Kwankwaso collaboration is already underway and was initiated by Obasanjo.
A high-ranking ADC source told one of our correspondents that the former president has also been linking Obi with influential northern stakeholders to ensure the success of the alliance.
“We are aware of the alliance, though Kwankwaso is not in our party yet. Former President Obasanjo is the one who connected the two of them (Obi and Kwankwaso), and he is committed to their alliance.
“The former president believes in Obi and has been speaking with some northern leaders on the need for them to see reason in the alliance,” the party official said on condition of anonymity.
Similarly, a leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement confirmed Obasanjo’s role in the initiative, noting that the former president proposed the idea.
“The former President is involved. In fact, he mooted the idea, and we are happy to be on track,” the source, who spoke anonymously, said.
Obi, Kwankwaso set up alliance committee
Sunday PUNCH learnt that both Obi and Kwankwaso have established a committee tasked with mobilising support within the ADC for the proposed joint ticket.
A reliable source within Obi’s camp revealed that the committee was formed about a month ago and mandated to map out strategies for achieving the alliance.
“We’re no longer at the talking stage; we have moved ahead. A committee has been set up for the alliance and things are taking shape,” the source said.
Confirming the development, the National Legal Adviser of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and a leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Magaji Ibrahim, SAN, said Kwankwaso was prepared to work with Obi either as President or Vice President.
Ibrahim, who said he was a member of the committee, stressed that the alliance had reached an advanced phase.
“There is ongoing discussion between Kwankwaso and Obi, and a committee is actually in place for the actualisation of the alliance. The committee is from both sides, and I am a member.
“We are ready to work together either for the first or second position. The central point is to salvage the nation,” he added.
On Kwankwaso’s possible defection to the ADC, Ibrahim said discussions were ongoing between the party and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
He disclosed that ADC leaders had been engaging the former Kano governor on the matter.
“We are discussing with them (ADC leaders) at the moment. There is a move to meet us, but we’re yet to meet,” he said.
Asked whether Kwankwaso would join the ADC without securing either the presidential or vice-presidential slot, Ibrahim responded, “I don’t think we can consider anything short of the second position.”
Attempts to contact Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages went unanswered.
However, a source close to Obasanjo confirmed to Sunday PUNCH that the former president was actively working to ensure the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance succeeds.
The source declined to provide additional details.
ADC not aware of Obi-Kwankwaso alliance
The ADC, however, said it was unaware of any formal alliance between Obi and Kwankwaso, describing such engagements as normal political interactions.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC remained open to welcoming Kwankwaso, whom he described as a formidable political figure.
“Kwankwaso is yet to join the ADC, but we are more than willing to have him with us. Obi is also a great politician and an asset to the party. However, whatever discussions they are having are outside the party,” he said.
Atiku not threatened by Obi, Kwankwaso alliance
Reacting to the proposed alliance, Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said the former Vice President was unfazed by the development.
Ibe dismissed claims that the move posed a challenge to Atiku’s political ambitions, noting that he remained focused on his own path.
“There is absolutely no threat; there cannot be any threat. Kwankwaso is welcome in the ADC because the party’s hands are open to patriots who feel Nigeria is facing an existential threat and that there is a need to redeem the country. That cannot be a threat to Atiku.”
He added that Atiku respected the right of political actors to form alliances without viewing them as rivals.
“Everybody is at liberty to chart their political journey. Atiku is quietly on his own, doing what he has to do, and everyone is at liberty to do what they have to do.
“Atiku is not in any way threatened; he does not feel threatened and will not be threatened by the prospect of anybody. He desires a better Nigeria, and just like the party is opening its hands to welcome men and women who understand that we are at a point in history where we are facing an existential threat.
“For Atiku, the more the merrier, and that should be the focus of every discussion in the party,” Ibe said.
Obidients welcome Obi, Kwankwaso alliance
The Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yinusa Tanko, welcomed the proposed partnership, describing it as potentially formidable ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tanko said discussions around the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance had been ongoing for some time and could evolve into a strong political force if properly managed.
“There have been a lot of talks before now. A good working relationship between the Obidient Movement and the Kwankwasiyya Movement will be a very strong combination,” he said.
Obi’s camp pushes for zoning
Meanwhile, supporters of the former Anambra State governor are intensifying calls for the ADC’s presidential ticket to be zoned to the South.
An ADC chieftain and Obi supporter, who spoke anonymously to Sunday PUNCH, said zoning the ticket southward offered the clearest route to unseating President Tinubu.
According to the source, Obi enjoys nationwide appeal, adding that zoning would further consolidate the coalition.
He said, “The leaders of the party are beginning to realise that if you want to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is from the South, zoning the ticket to the South will allow southern presidential aspirants within the fold of the ADC to contest, and one of them will emerge. When that happens, it will be quite easy; in fact, it is going to be the surest way to defeat Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. Anything short of that will be to the disadvantage of the coalition group.
“What we are advocating is that the ticket should be zoned to the South, but we are not going to fight anybody about this. We are going to consult widely and, of course, try as much as possible to make every member or stakeholder in this movement understand why it should go to the South. We have credible people.”
However, party leaders, including the Chairman of the ADC Chairmen’s Forum and Kogi State Chairman, Kingsley Ogga; the Forum’s Secretary and Edo State Chairman, Kennedy Odion; and the Adamawa State Chairman, Arabi Mustapha, warned that zoning advocacy could weaken the coalition and inadvertently favour Tinubu.
Ogga cautioned Obi’s supporters to prioritise the party’s collective interest, insisting that zoning proponents were undermining unity.
Similarly, the Adamawa State Chairman said advocates of regional preferences were being short-sighted.
He stated, “My response to them is simple: their thinking is myopic. Let them think far. Nigeria has two regions, the North and the South. So, putting a particular interest on someone, for example, a man from the South agitating for Peter Obi, or a man from the North saying Atiku Abubakar, is not what Nigeria really needs now.
“Nigeria needs someone who will stand on his feet to rescue the nation from where it is. Currently, we don’t have what we call government; we only have people in dictatorial positions of leadership.”