Reports of former President Olusegun Obasanjo quietly backing a joint presidential ticket featuring Labour Party (LP) 2023 candidate Peter Obi and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have ignited a fierce political row across major opposition camps.
The development comes amid shifting calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Obasanjo reportedly distancing himself from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to rally support around an Obi–Kwankwaso alignment as the main challenger to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tensions Over Power-Sharing & Regional Dynamics
The reported involvement of the elder statesman in structuring the alliance has triggered friction within both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and regional political blocs across the North West:
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Opposition Fragmentation: Loyalists of Atiku Abubakar have pushed back against the initiative, describing Obasanjo’s preference for an Obi-led ticket as an attempt to bypass traditional PDP structures.
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North West Resistance: Reports of Kwankwaso potentially accepting a vice-presidential slot behind Obi have generated pushback among key northern stakeholders, leading to resignation threats and heated debates over political seniority and regional balance.
The “NDC” Coalition Push: Prominent opposition figures, including former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal, have publicly defended the merging of Obi’s youth appeal with Kwankwaso’s Kwankwasiyya grassroots movement in the North as necessary to build a viable alternative.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2027 OPPOSITION REALIGNMENT MATRIX │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Key Catalyst : Reported backing by former President Olusegun │
│ Obasanjo for a unified opposition platform. │
│ │
│ • Proposed Ticket : Peter Obi (Southeast) & Rabiu Kwankwaso (North West)│
│ │
│ • Key Objections : Atiku camp rejects exclusion; North West blocs │
│ debate presidential vs. vice-presidential slots. │
│ │
│ • Ruling Party View: APC stalwarts dismiss the coalition as unstable │
│ and "dead on arrival" in key northern strongholds. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
(Sources: National Political Digests & Opposition Stakeholder Briefings)
Ruling Party Reaction
Reacting to the ongoing negotiations, key stalwarts of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—including APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje—have dismissed the proposed coalition as incapable of altering the electoral map in Kano State and the wider North West region.
Spokespersons for the administration have similarly argued that opposition alliances focused strictly on electoral arithmetic rather than policy frameworks will fail to convince voters ahead of 2027.
As discussions continue behind closed doors, spokespersons for both Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso maintain that while dialogue among opposition leaders remains open, no formal accord on ticket order or party platform has been finalized.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
