Indications have emerged that a joint presidential ticket involving former candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is being considered ahead of the 2027 general elections. The pair is expected to challenge former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the presidential ticket of the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid renewed efforts to unify the opposition.
Obi and Kwankwaso, the presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) respectively in the 2023 elections, had previously attempted to form an alliance. Those talks collapsed following disagreements over who would lead the ticket and who would serve as the running mate.
The renewed push for a joint ticket comes against the backdrop of the 2023 elections, where both men delivered strong but regionally concentrated performances. Obi secured over six million votes nationwide, winning the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, and several states in the South-East while mobilizing a youth-driven movement to finish third. Kwankwaso delivered a decisive victory in Kano State, reaffirming his control of one of Nigeria’s largest voting blocs through his Kwankwasiyya movement to finish fourth.
The Obasanjo Mediation
Daily Trust gathered over the weekend that fresh efforts to reconcile both camps are being spearheaded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Sources suggest Obasanjo is convinced that a united Obi-Kwankwaso ticket offers the opposition its best chance of mounting a credible challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Multiple sources familiar with the talks said Obasanjo has tentatively persuaded Kwankwaso to accept the role of Obi’s running mate.
While Obi formally joined the ADC two weeks ago and has signaled his intent to be on the 2027 ballot, Kwankwaso remains in the NNPP. However, addressing supporters over the weekend, Kwankwaso confirmed he is in discussions with political leaders and will soon announce his next move.
An aide to Kwankwaso confirmed to *Daily Trust* that “high-level discussions with key stakeholders across the political spectrum” are ongoing.
“While our party has not yet finalized its position or reached a full consensus, we can confirm we are engaged in discussions with various political parties and individuals,” the aide said. “Nigeria urgently requires a departure from the current environment characterized by rampant insecurity and the collapse of essential systems.”
Strategic Options: The ADC Primary or a Fallback Plan
Sources indicate that two strategic options are being pursued to ensure an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket features in the 2027 race. The first plan is to clinch the ADC presidential ticket by confronting Atiku Abubakar directly during the party’s primaries.
“Kwankwaso met with Baba Obasanjo in Abeokuta last week, and Baba advised him to join the ADC and accept the vice-presidential slot under Obi,” one source revealed. “This aligns with advice given by General Ibrahim Babangida weeks earlier, though IBB did not go as far as discussing specific slots.”
The source added: “The thinking is that current political momentum favors an Obi presidency. The goal is to get Obi and Kwankwaso to work together to challenge Atiku for the ADC ticket. They know Atiku will not back down easily, but they believe their combined weight can defeat him at the primaries.”
Promoters of the proposed ticket are also considering a fallback option: securing a platform outside the ADC should the internal party dynamics favor Atiku.
Efforts to reach the Atiku Media Office were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. Calls to media advisers Paul Ibe and Phrank Shaibu went unanswered. Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, could not be reached for comment.
Kwankwaso’s Conditions: ‘Number One or Number Two’
During an interaction with his supporters, Kwankwaso emphasized that any merger or coalition must include a clear offer for him to serve as either the presidential or vice-presidential candidate.
“At the national level, our hope is to merge with others, whether under the NNPP or any other platform. But those who want us must agree that I, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will be number one or number two,” he stated.
He also dismissed rumors of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating he remains opposed to such a move.
Analysts: The ‘Atiku Factor’ and Opposition Unity
Political analysts suggest that while an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket is formidable, its success hinges on whether the opposition can avoid the fragmentation that cost them the 2023 election.
Prof. Abubakar Kari of the University of Abuja described the potential ticket as “mouthwatering.”
“If the two pool their resources, it would be a very formidable ticket. It would certainly give the ruling party a serious run for its money,” Kari said. However, he warned that Atiku’s entrenched position within the ADC remains a significant hurdle.
“If the ADC conducts open primaries involving Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso, it would be a huge propaganda victory for the party. But if the opposition splits again, they are shooting themselves in the foot,” he added.
Dr. Sam Amadi of the Abuja School of Political and Social Thought noted that the ticket’s competitiveness would depend on broader northern alliances.
“If the ticket enjoys the backing of northern heavyweights like El-Rufai or Atiku himself, it becomes a solid threat to President Tinubu. However, moving the ticket outside the ADC could once again fragment the opposition vote,” Amadi cautioned.
