There are growing indications that talks are ongoing over a possible joint presidential ticket between former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Daily Trust reports that discussions are underway over a possible political realignment that could pitch Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the presidential nomination of a proposed opposition coalition on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Both Obi and Kwankwaso ran in the 2023 presidential election—Obi under the Labour Party and Kwankwaso on the New Nigeria People’s Party ticket—and had previously explored a joint bid. That effort, however, collapsed due to unresolved disagreements over how the ticket would be structured.
The fresh reconciliation push is anchored on the electoral showing of both politicians in 2023, when they each demonstrated significant, though geographically concentrated, appeal. Obi polled more than six million votes nationwide, recording victories in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos State and across the South-East. Kwankwaso, on the other hand, dominated Kano State, reinforcing his grip on the state through the Kwankwasiyya political movement.
Insiders disclosed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is playing a central role in efforts to forge a common front, convinced that a united opposition ticket would present a stronger challenge to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election. According to the sources, Obasanjo has already made headway in discussions aimed at getting Kwankwaso to accept the vice-presidential position in a potential ticket led by Obi.
An aide was responding to enquiries from Daily Trust regarding reports of a meeting last week involving Obasanjo, Obi and Kwankwaso. While Kwankwaso neither confirmed nor denied that such a meeting took place, sources said deliberations focused on two major strategic options intended to give an Obi–Kwankwaso alliance a competitive edge ahead of the 2027 polls.
One of the options, the sources said, is to secure the ADC presidential ticket by directly challenging Atiku Abubakar at the party’s primaries.
“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. 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,” one of the sources said.
“The thinking is that the political momentum and current dynamics, both local and international, favour an Obi presidency. Baba Obasanjo is a key promoter of Obi’s ambition. Even Atiku has acknowledged in the past that it was Baba who recommended Obi to him as vice-presidential candidate in 2019.
The source explained that the strategy is to unite Obi and Kwankwaso behind a single front to take on Atiku for the ADC ticket. According to the source, Atiku is expected to put up strong resistance and enjoys advantages within party structures, making it unlikely for either Obi or Kwankwaso to prevail individually at the primaries. However, by combining their political strength, the source said both camps believe they could mount a more competitive challenge.
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