Efforts by opposition parties to present a single presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election have suffered a setback after Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso ruled out withdrawing from the race in favour of African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Atiku Abubakar. Kwankwaso said he and his running mate, Peter Obi, remained committed to their joint ticket.
In a statement posted on his X handle, the former Kano State governor dismissed claims that the NDC candidates planned to step down for Atiku or form an alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He described the allegations as unfounded and accused the ADC Presidential Campaign Council of attempting to discredit the NDC ticket.
The dispute comes amid efforts by opposition leaders to form a broad coalition ahead of the January 16, 2027, presidential election. Atiku and Obi, who were running mates under the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019, contested separately in 2023, with Atiku retaining the PDP ticket while Obi ran under the Labour Party. Both lost to Tinubu.
Ahead of the next election, Atiku defected from the PDP to the ADC, followed by Obi and his supporters. Obi later moved to the NDC, where he teamed up with Kwankwaso as the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Their decision has complicated ongoing efforts to unite opposition parties behind one candidate.
The latest coalition initiative is being led by the G-100, convened by former Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman. Lukman said discussions had expanded beyond the ADC and NDC to include four other parties, with the group hoping to build a broad alliance before the election. However, disagreements over which candidate should lead the opposition have continued to hamper negotiations.
Kwankwaso accused the ADC campaign team of unfairly targeting him and Obi instead of addressing allegations against Atiku raised by Vice-President Kashim Shettima. He said the NDC would focus on presenting its candidates’ records and proposals on insecurity, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and the economy, insisting that the party offered a credible alternative to both the APC and ADC.
Responding, ADC Presidential Campaign Council Director of Media and Publicity Kola Ologbondiyan accused Kwankwaso of attacking the opposition party instead of holding Tinubu’s administration accountable. He questioned the NDC leader’s political alignment and alleged that his criticisms of Atiku were intended to curry favour with the ruling party. Ologbondiyan said the ADC would remain focused on mobilising Nigerians behind its campaign for an alternative to the current administration.
