2027: Obasanjo Pushes Obi Kwankwaso Joint Ticket

Obasanjo reportedly pushes Obi Kwankwaso joint ticket for 2027.
Plan aims to challenge Atiku for ADC presidential ticket.
Kwankwaso camp confirms high level coalition talks ongoing.

A report has indicated that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is leading efforts to bring former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso together on a joint ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to Daily Trust, Obasanjo believes that an Obi Kwankwaso ticket would present a stronger chance of unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that both Obi and Kwankwaso are expected to contest the presidential ticket of the coalition backed African Democratic Congress, ADC, where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also positioning himself, amid renewed attempts to unify opposition forces.

Multiple sources quoted by the publication said Obasanjo has tentatively convinced Kwankwaso to consider serving as Obi’s running mate.

According to the sources, the initial strategy is to secure the ADC presidential ticket by directly challenging Atiku at the party primaries.

“Kwankwaso went to Abeokuta to meet Baba Obasanjo last week, and Baba told him to join the ADC and accept to be Obi’s vice. This is similar to what General Ibrahim Babangida told him weeks earlier, although IBB did not go as far as discussing the vice presidential slot. He only advised him to join the ADC,” one source said.

“The thinking is that the political momentum and current dynamics, both local and international, favour an Obi presidency. Baba Obasanjo is a key promoter of Obi’s ambition. Even Atiku has acknowledged in the past that it was Baba who recommended Obi to him as vice presidential candidate in 2019.

“The goal is to get Obi and Kwankwaso to work together in order to challenge Atiku for the ADC ticket. They know Atiku will not back down easily, and that the internal dynamics of party politics favour him. There is hardly a chance that either Obi or Kwankwaso, acting alone, can defeat Atiku at the primaries. But with both of them pulling their weight together, they believe they may stand a chance,” the source added.

Kwankwaso also confirmed ongoing talks through a close aide, who told the publication that “high level discussions with key stakeholders across the political spectrum” were underway.

“While our party has not yet finalised its position or reached a full consensus on our path forward, we can confirm that we are engaged in high level discussions with key stakeholders across the political spectrum, including political parties and individuals.

“Our position will very soon be known to the public. We firmly believe that Nigeria urgently requires a departure from the current environment characterised by rampant insecurity and the widespread collapse of essential systems.

“We kindly urge the public to remain patient and to continue supporting our movement as we work tirelessly towards building a better Nigeria for all citizens,” the aide said.

The aide was responding to enquiries over a reported meeting involving Kwankwaso, Obi and Obasanjo last week. While the former Kano governor neither confirmed nor denied the meeting, sources said two strategic options were being explored to ensure an Obi Kwankwaso ticket features prominently in the 2027 presidential contest.