Politics

2027: Atiku Not Bothered by Rumoured Obi–Kwankwaso Alliance — Aide

Published by admin on January 26th, 2026.

2027: Atiku Not Bothered by Rumoured Obi–Kwankwaso Alliance — Aide

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has played down reports suggesting that a possible political partnership between Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso could affect his plans ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said he is not worried by the speculation and remains confident in the internal democratic process of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). According to him, rumours and political talks alone cannot determine the outcome of an election in a democratic system.

The comments followed reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo may be encouraging talks aimed at forming a strong opposition alliance, possibly featuring Obi and Kwankwaso on a joint presidential ticket under the ADC platform. The reports have sparked widespread debate across the political space.

However, Ibe explained that Atiku does not see such discussions as a threat to his ambition. He said democracy allows every political leader the freedom to make personal choices and pursue their goals.

“Atiku contesting does not stop others from contesting,” Ibe said. “No one owns the party. Anyone who is qualified has the right to seek the party’s ticket.”

He added that the ADC is currently focused on strengthening its structures nationwide in order to effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027, rather than getting distracted by early speculations about candidates.

According to him, building a strong and organised party should be the main priority at this stage, not premature discussions about ticket combinations.

Ibe also described Peter Obi as a dedicated member of the ADC and warned against making conclusions based on rumours or unconfirmed reports. He stressed that the party is more interested in long-term development than political gossip.

On Kwankwaso’s reported interest in joining the party, Atiku welcomed him, saying that cooperation among political leaders is important for bringing positive change to Nigeria.

“We welcome Kwankwaso to the ADC. Working together will help deliver the change Nigerians desire,” he said.

Reaffirming Atiku’s trust in the party’s system, Ibe said the ADC’s presidential candidate for 2027 would be chosen through a transparent primary election, where delegates would decide, in line with party rules.

This position was also supported by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who earlier stated that all party candidates would emerge through fair and open processes.

Abdullahi noted that the ADC belongs to all Nigerians who believe in unity and progress, not to any individual or group. He assured that the party would avoid manipulation and imposition in selecting its candidates.

He further promised that the ADC would operate with transparency and integrity, aiming to rebuild public trust and present itself as a credible alternative in the 2027 elections.