The proposed political alliance between the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections has reportedly reached an advanced stage.
Findings by Sunday PUNCH revealed that both Obi and Kwankwaso have jointly constituted a committee to actualise a joint presidential ticket on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
A principal official of the ADC disclosed that the proposed Obi–Kwankwaso alliance was initiated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to the party official, Obasanjo not only endorsed Obi’s defection to the ADC but also advised the former Anambra State governor to work with Kwankwaso to secure the party’s presidential and vice-presidential tickets.
Obasanjo had openly campaigned for Obi during the 2023 presidential election, mobilising support for him across the country against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In an open letter dated January 1, 2023, the former president said, “None of the contestants is a saint, but when one compares their character, antecedents, understanding, knowledge, discipline and vitality they can bring to bear, and the great effort required to stay focused on the job—particularly looking at where the country is today—and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi, as a mentee, has an edge.”
Kwankwaso, on his part, served as Minister of Defence during Obasanjo’s second term in office.
Meanwhile, Obasanjo has not hidden his opposition to the presidential ambition of his former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
Currently, Atiku, Obi and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi are the three presidential aspirants within the ADC, while efforts are ongoing to persuade Kwankwaso to formally join the party.
Before defecting to the ADC, Obi had pledged to serve only one term if elected president. Following this, Kwankwaso reportedly declared his readiness to serve as vice-presidential candidate.
Although Kwankwaso is yet to officially join the ADC, Sunday PUNCH gathered that the alliance between him and Obi had already commenced, with Obasanjo playing a key role.
A top ADC source said the former president had also been linking Obi with influential northern political leaders to ensure the success of the alliance.
“We’re aware of the alliance, though Kwankwaso is not in our party yet. Former President Obasanjo is the one who connected the two of them (Obi and Kwankwaso), and he is committed to their alliance,” the source said.
“The former president believes in Obi and has been speaking with some northern leaders on the need for them to see reason in the alliance,” the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Similarly, a leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement confirmed Obasanjo’s involvement in the proposed alliance.
“The former President is involved. In fact, he mooted the idea, and we are happy to be on track,” the source said.
Obi and Kwankwaso have set up a joint committee to mobilise support within the ADC for the proposed ticket.
A source close to Obi said the committee was established about a month ago and mandated to strategise on how to actualise the alliance.
“We’re no longer at the talking stage; we have moved ahead. A committee has been set up for the alliance and things are taking shape,” the source said.
Confirming the development, the National Legal Adviser of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and a leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Magaji Ibrahim, SAN, said Kwankwaso was ready to work with Obi either as president or vice president.
Ibrahim, who disclosed that he is a member of the committee, said the discussions had reached an advanced stage.
“There is ongoing discussion between Kwankwaso and Obi, and a committee is actually in place for the actualisation of the alliance. The committee is from both sides, and I am a member,” he said.
“We are ready to work together either for the first or second position. The central point is to salvage the nation,” he added.
On Kwankwaso’s possible defection to the ADC, Ibrahim said talks were ongoing between the party leadership and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
“We are discussing with them (ADC leaders) at the moment. There is a move to meet us, but we’re yet to meet,” he said.
Asked whether Kwankwaso would still join the ADC without securing either the presidential or vice-presidential ticket, Ibrahim said, “I don’t think we can consider anything short of the second position.”
Efforts to reach Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or text messages.
However, a source within Obasanjo’s camp confirmed that the former president was actively working to ensure the success of the Obi–Kwankwaso alliance but declined to provide further details.
Reacting, the ADC denied official knowledge of any alliance, describing such political discussions as normal.
The party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC was open to welcoming Kwankwaso, whom he described as a strong political figure.
“Kwankwaso is yet to join the ADC, but we are more than willing to have him with us. Obi is also a great politician and an asset to the party. However, whatever discussions they are having are outside the party,” Abdullahi said.
Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said the former Vice President was not threatened by the proposed alliance.
“There is absolutely no threat; there cannot be any threat. Kwankwaso is welcome in the ADC because the party’s hands are open to patriots who feel Nigeria is facing an existential threat and that there is a need to redeem the country. That cannot be a threat to Atiku,” he said.
Ibe added, “Everybody is at liberty to chart their political journey. Atiku is quietly on his own, doing what he has to do, and everyone is at liberty to do what they have to do.”
“For Atiku, the more the merrier, and that should be the focus of every discussion in the party,” he added.
The Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yinusa Tanko, welcomed the alliance, describing it as potentially formidable ahead of 2027.
“There have been a lot of talks before now. A good working relationship between the Obidient Movement and the Kwankwasiyya Movement will be a very strong combination,” Tanko said.
Meanwhile, Obi’s supporters are intensifying calls for the ADC’s presidential ticket to be zoned to the South.
An ADC chieftain backing Obi said zoning the ticket southward would make it easier to defeat President Tinubu in 2027.
“If you want to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, zoning the ticket to the South will allow southern aspirants within the ADC to contest, and one of them will emerge,” the source said.
However, party leaders including Kingsley Ogga, Kennedy Odion and Arabi Mustapha warned that zoning could weaken the coalition.
Ogga urged party members to prioritise the party’s interest, while Mustapha said, “Nigeria needs someone who will stand on his feet to rescue the nation from where it is. Currently, we don’t have what we call government; we only have people in dictatorial positions of leadership.”
