Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has made a fresh appeal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to reconsider his ambition to contest Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, adding another layer to the growing political realignment ahead of the election.
Kwankwaso, who is currently working alongside Peter Obi under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, reportedly urged Atiku to step aside and allow the opposition alliance to pursue a different political arrangement ahead of the 2027 contest.
The former Kano State governor made the appeal while addressing members of the Fulani Farmers Association at his residence in Abuja. He reportedly argued that Atiku should consider his age and health as factors in deciding whether to continue pursuing the presidency...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Kwankwaso also offered reassurance that Atiku would not be abandoned if the opposition alliance succeeds at the polls. He said that should he and Obi eventually take control of the federal government, they would ensure that the former vice president was properly taken care of.
The development is significant because Atiku remains one of the most experienced figures in Nigeria’s opposition politics. He has contested the presidency on several occasions and was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Atiku has also previously indicated that the 2027 election could represent his final attempt at becoming Nigeria’s president, meaning the latest appeal from Kwankwaso could add further pressure to the ongoing debate over who should lead the opposition into the next general election.
The disagreement over the opposition’s presidential strategy is coming at a time when several prominent politicians are repositioning themselves ahead of 2027. The emergence of new political alliances has created expectations that opposition figures could eventually settle on a single candidate capable of challenging the ruling party.
Kwankwaso and Obi are already at the centre of one of the major opposition arrangements, while Atiku remains an influential political figure with considerable experience and a nationwide network.
The question of whether Atiku should continue with his presidential ambition is therefore likely to remain a major subject of discussion within opposition circles. For supporters of the younger generation of political leadership, stepping aside could create room for a new candidate, while Atiku’s supporters may argue that experience and political structure remain important assets in a presidential contest.
Kwankwaso’s latest comments could consequently have implications beyond his personal relationship with Atiku. They could influence negotiations among opposition leaders as they attempt to build a stronger platform before the 2027 election.
With the presidential race gradually taking shape, the ability of opposition politicians to resolve questions of leadership, zoning, ambition and candidate selection could ultimately determine whether their emerging alliance becomes a formidable electoral force or remains divided by competing interests.
