ABUJA, NIGERIA — The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has slammed the Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, for calling on its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to step down ahead of the 2027 election.
Kwankwaso made the call during an interview on Channels Television. He said he told some Fulani groups to prevail on Atiku to withdraw from the presidential race.
ADC’s Response
The Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, issued a statement on Saturday. He described Kwankwaso’s remark as reckless, self-serving, and a desperate attempt to advance President Bola Tinubu’s political interests.
Ologbondiyan said Kwankwaso was not committed to the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, or the opposition’s move to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
According to him, Kwankwaso’s support for Obi is driven more by his personal ambition than by a genuine commitment to the opposition’s collective objective.
Kwankwaso’s Focus
The statement read: “The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has berated Senator Kwankwaso over his call for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step down for Mr Peter Obi. We describe the statement as reckless, self-serving and a desperate attempt to advance President Tinubu’s political interests ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“Rather than campaigning against President Tinubu, whose administration Nigerians are eagerly working to vote out, Kwankwaso is fixated on Atiku Abubakar, the ADC candidate, whom millions of Nigerians believe can restore economic stability and make life affordable again.”
Advancing Tinubu’s Interests
Ologbondiyan accused Kwankwaso of advancing President Tinubu’s interests. He said it is a familiar APC strategy to use willing collaborators within the opposition to create confusion and sow division.
“What Kwankwaso is doing amounts to advancing President Tinubu’s interests. It is a familiar APC strategy to use willing collaborators within the opposition to create confusion, sow division, and weaken the collective efforts to bring about political change. Nigerians are not fooled. There is a growing perception that Kwankwaso’s support for Peter Obi is driven more by his personal ambition than by a genuine commitment to the opposition’s collective objective of defeating the APC.”
Questioning Kwankwaso’s Influence
The statement also questioned Kwankwaso’s political influence. It noted that he finished fourth in the 2023 presidential election.
“Kwankwaso must come to terms with the realities of the national political landscape. His influence should not be confused with the capacity to win a presidential election. If his political relevance were as extensive as he suggests, why did he finish fourth in the last presidential election?”
Atiku’s Qualifications
Ologbondiyan described Atiku as a cosmopolitan and detribalised political figure. He said Atiku has built relationships across the North, South, East, and West over more than three decades.
“Atiku Abubakar is a cosmopolitan, detribalised, and nationally recognised political figure who has built relationships across the North, South, East, and West over more than three decades. Our campaign, however, invites Kwankwaso and his allies to reconsider their position and support the formidable candidacy of Atiku Abubakar,” he said.
Atiku as the Preferred Pathway
The statement concluded that Atiku remains the party’s preferred pathway to defeating President Tinubu. It said he would end the hunger, poverty, and insecurity that the APC administration has caused.
“Atiku remains our preferred pathway to defeating President Tinubu and ending the hunger, poverty, and insecurity that the APC administration has foisted on our nation.”
What This Means
The exchange highlights the growing tension within the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections. It also shows the difficulty of uniting the opposition against the ruling party.
For now, the ADC has made its position clear. It will not be swayed by Kwankwaso’s calls for Atiku to step down. The coming months will reveal whether the opposition can overcome its divisions and present a united front.
