(DDM) – The All Progressives Congress has dismissed fresh rumours claiming that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are plotting a political alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the rebuttal came from the APC National Vice Chairman for the South-East, Ijeoma Arodiogbu, who argued that Kwankwaso is “too politically experienced” to align himself with Atiku, whom he described as a politician nearing the end of his influence.
The clarifications emerged after widespread speculation fuelled by Atiku’s friendly public appearance at Kwankwaso’s 69th birthday celebration two weeks earlier.
Arodiogbu insisted that the birthday gesture had been misinterpreted by political observers eager to predict mergers and alliances before the 2027 general elections.
He maintained that the APC expects Kwankwaso to join the ruling party rather than collaborate with Atiku or pursue another coalition through the NNPP.
According to him, the former Kano governor has enough political maturity to recognise the futility of aligning with Atiku at this stage of Nigeria’s political landscape.
Arodiogbu stated that several high-profile defections are expected before the end of the year and hinted that Kwankwaso could be one of them if he chooses the “most advantageous” path.
He stressed that the APC remains confident that Kwankwaso will not form any political pact with Atiku under any circumstances.
When asked whether Atiku could hypothetically offer Kwankwaso a more attractive political deal than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Arodiogbu dismissed the idea as unrealistic.
He argued that Atiku has “nothing meaningful to offer,” insisting that the former vice president has exhausted his political options after multiple unsuccessful presidential bids.
The APC chieftain used vivid metaphors to emphasize his claims, describing Atiku as “a man galloping on a two-legged horse” and likening his political ambition to “a boy drawing a car in the sand and trying to drive it.”
He said the time had come for Atiku to recognise the natural end of his political journey and withdraw from the race rather than pursue what he called “a waste of energy.”
Arodiogbu suggested that seasoned politicians like Kwankwaso are too strategic to attach their ambitions to a candidate he believes has crossed his political threshold.
He maintained that the APC is the only practical option for anyone seeking relevance ahead of 2027, adding that the ruling party is prepared to welcome prominent defectors.
Political analysts note that the growing alignment towards the APC is linked to the party’s strengthened control of federal institutions after the 2023 elections.
However, critics argue that both Atiku and Kwankwaso remain influential figures with loyal supporter bases capable of reshaping alliances if conditions become favourable.
Despite these contrasting views, Arodiogbu insists that the 2027 political landscape will not feature any Atiku-Kwankwaso coalition, describing such speculation as “political fiction rather than political strategy.”