Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has dismissed claims that the opposition has become permanently divided ahead of the 2027 elections, saying the Nigeria Democratic Congress and the African Democratic Congress could still work together before the polls.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Kwankwaso said his decision to leave the ADC alongside Peter Obi was not driven by personal conflict with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any other opposition figure.
“Now, we may still work together before the election,” Kwankwaso said.
“I personally, and I think even Obi himself, decided to leave ADC not because we are fighting Atiku or anybody there. We left because we realised there were some issues.”
Kwankwaso claimed the ADC was struggling with unresolved internal problems that could affect its ability to field candidates for the 2027 elections, although he did not provide details.
“Whether they will be able to field candidates in that party or not is just a matter of time. It’s not like we had a primary election,” he stated.
The comments come amid growing debate over the shape of Nigeria’s opposition coalition ahead of 2027, especially after Atiku recently suggested that Kwankwaso’s political influence was largely limited to Kano State.
Atiku had also described himself as the most popular northern politician among current opposition figures, arguing that leaders such as Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal and Nasir El-Rufai lacked his nationwide northern support base.
Kwankwaso avoided responding directly to the criticism, insisting he held no grudges.
“Politics is just like a game. I’m not fighting anybody and I’m not expecting anybody to fight me. I think we are past that level now,” he said.
He also dismissed suggestions that opposition votes would be split in Kano State because of rival political alignments.
“Let’s wait for the election and see whether votes are split in Kano or not,” he added.
Kwankwaso further recalled his previous political alliance with Atiku during the 2019 presidential election, noting that he served as Atiku’s northern coordinator.
“There was an election in Port Harcourt in 2019. He won the election, and I was his coordinator for the North. We worked for him,” he said.
