Efforts by some stakeholders within and outside the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to float a joint presidential ticket of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections are intensifying, amid growing manoeuvres within the opposition political space.
Although the ADC leadership has sought to play down the agitation, proponents of the proposed ticket have continued to press their case, arguing that an Obi–Kwankwaso combination offers the opposition its strongest chance of unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Multiple sources told Daily Trust that the push cuts across party lines and includes senior opposition politicians, power brokers and some retired military officers. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is widely believed not only to be sympathetic to the idea but also the key promoter of Obi’s ambition and supportive of broader efforts to build a credible opposition coalition.
Obi and Kwankwaso, who were the presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) respectively in the 2023 election, had explored the possibility of an alliance before the polls. The talks, however, collapsed amid disagreements over the structure of the ticket and who would emerge as presidential candidate and running mate.
The renewed push comes against the backdrop of the 2023 election, in which both men recorded strong but largely regional performances. Obi polled more than six million votes nationwide, winning in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and all five South-East states, while mobilising a youth-driven, urban-based movement that propelled him to third place.
Kwankwaso, on his part, secured a decisive victory in Kano State, reaffirming his dominance of one of Nigeria’s largest voting blocs through his Kwankwasiyya political movement. He finished fourth, behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Obi.
Sources said the logic behind the renewed talks is the belief among opposition figures that a merger of Obi’s South-East and urban support base with Kwankwaso’s North-West stronghold could significantly alter the electoral equation in 2027.
Daily Trust gathered at the weekend that efforts to bring both men together are being quietly encouraged by Obasanjo, who is said to be convinced that the duo represents a more viable alternative to the APC than any standalone candidacy.
While Obi has formally joined the ADC following months of speculation about his political future, Kwankwaso remains in the NNPP. However, the former Kano governor has told loyalists that he is holding consultations with political leaders and will announce his next line of action in due course.
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