2027: KWANKWASO EXPLAINS WHY HE WANTS ATIKU TO WITHDRAW FOR PETER OBI

By NaijaParrot October 16, 2026 

 ABUJA, NIGERIA — Former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has explained why he wants former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to step aside from the 2027 presidential race in favour of Peter Obi. Kwankwaso made the clarification during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, where he discussed his longstanding political relationship with Atiku and the need for a new political arrangement ahead of the next general election.

Kwankwaso confirmed that he wanted Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to reconsider his ambition and allow Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, to lead their political arrangement. He stressed that his position was not driven by personal hostility, noting that he and Atiku had worked together for decades on several political projects. According to Kwankwaso, their longstanding relationship gives him a good understanding of Atiku’s political journey and the contributions they have made to one another over the years.

 Kwankwaso traced his political relationship with Atiku to 1993, when both men were involved in the political movement led by the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. He recalled that the group supported Atiku’s aspiration to become the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), although the effort did not succeed. Kwankwaso also recounted their political interactions during the transition to civilian rule in 1999, Atiku’s time as vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and subsequent political engagements. He further recalled that they were both presidential aspirants under the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 election, which Muhammadu Buhari eventually won. Kwankwaso said their history of political cooperation was one reason his latest appeal should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine Atiku personally.

 Kwankwaso’s position comes amid continuing discussions over how opposition parties might approach the 2027 presidential election. Obi and Kwankwaso are now aligned under the NDC, while Atiku is associated with the ADC. Their separate political platforms raise questions about whether opposition leaders can reach an agreement on a common candidate or will contest against one another. The debate also highlights the difficulty of balancing individual presidential ambitions with calls for cooperation among opposition figures. Atiku has not abandoned his presidential ambition in response to Kwankwaso’s appeal, while the outcome of any possible agreement between the political camps remains uncertain. 

 Kwankwaso’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the relationship between the three prominent politicians and the possibility of further negotiations before the election. Whether Atiku will consider withdrawing, whether the parties can agree on a common direction, and how the political alliances will develop are questions that remain open as preparations for the 2027 election continue. 

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