Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju has ignited a fresh political firestorm ahead of the 2027 general elections, alleging that the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, are working in the interest of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress. Adeyanju made the allegation on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in a post on his official X handle, urging Nigerians not to vote for Obi in 2027 because such votes would ultimately benefit Tinubu and the APC. "Peter Obi and Kwankwaso are working for Tinubu like they did in 2023. Don't waste your votes again on them like 2023," Adeyanju wrote. "A vote for them is a vote for Bola Tinubu and the APC. They know exactly what they are doing."
The claim is not new. Adeyanju has repeatedly argued that Obi and Kwankwaso split the opposition vote in the 2023 presidential election, handing victory to Tinubu. In that election, Tinubu polled about 8.7 million votes, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party secured 6.9 million, Obi of the Labour Party received 6.1 million, and Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party garnered 1.4 million. The combined votes of the three leading opposition candidates exceeded 14 million, far more than Tinubu's total. Adeyanju's argument is that this division is not accidental. He contends that Obi and Kwankwaso are acting as spoilers, deliberately fragmenting the opposition to ensure Tinubu's re-election. "Who benefits when Obi runs? Tinubu. They pretend to be opposition but they are APC's biggest assets," he said.
The allegation gains additional weight from the political realignments that have taken place since 2023. Obi and Kwankwaso, who ran against each other in 2023, have now formed a joint ticket under the NDC, with Obi as the presidential candidate and Kwankwaso as his running mate. This alliance, which was formalised in 2026, was initially presented as a bold attempt to unite the opposition and present a formidable challenge to the ruling party. But Adeyanju and other critics view it differently. They argue that the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket is designed to appeal to the same voting blocs that supported them in 2023, thereby preventing those votes from consolidating behind a single opposition candidate who could actually defeat Tinubu.
The 2027 opposition landscape is fragmented. The African Democratic Congress has nominated Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate, and Atiku has been positioning himself as the candidate best positioned to unseat Tinubu. Adeyanju has been a vocal supporter of the Atiku-ADC coalition, and his criticism of Obi and Kwankwaso is consistent with his long-standing advocacy for a united opposition. He has repeatedly said that only a unified opposition can defeat Tinubu, and that any candidate or party that divides the opposition is effectively working for the ruling party. In May 2026, he warned that the ADC should avoid presenting Obi as its candidate, arguing that Obi's candidacy would split the opposition and benefit Tinubu.
Adeyanju's critics, however, argue that his position is self-serving and that he is simply promoting Atiku's candidacy. They point out that Adeyanju has been a long-time ally of Atiku and that his allegations against Obi and Kwankwaso are designed to discredit them and boost Atiku's chances. They also argue that the NDC ticket represents a genuine attempt to unite the opposition, and that Adeyanju's claim that Obi and Kwankwaso are working for Tinubu is absurd, given that both men have been vocal critics of the Tinubu administration.
The Obi-Kwankwaso ticket has also faced internal challenges. In September 2026, Obi publicly disowned a campaign council announced by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, a support group, and backed the NDC's national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, in asserting the party's authority over the campaign structure. The dispute highlighted the tension between the formal party apparatus and the informal support groups that have rallied behind Obi. The NDC has since moved to reassert control, granting Obi and Kwankwaso the authority to nominate key officials of the party's official Presidential Campaign Council.
The political arithmetic is stark. For the opposition to defeat Tinubu in 2027, it must consolidate its votes. In 2023, the opposition was divided, and Tinubu won with a plurality. If the opposition remains divided in 2027, the same outcome is likely. Adeyanju's warning is, at its core, a warning about political mathematics. He is telling Nigerians that a vote for Obi is not a vote for change, but a vote for the status quo, because it divides the opposition and makes it easier for Tinubu to win. Whether voters will heed that warning is another matter. Obi has a large and passionate following, particularly among young Nigerians, who see him as a break from the old political order. Many of those supporters are unlikely to abandon him simply because Adeyanju says his candidacy benefits Tinubu.
The NDC has not issued an official response to Adeyanju's allegation. Obi has also not commented on the claim. In the past, Obi has said he will never abuse or disrespect President Tinubu, describing him as the President of the country who has his respect. But he has also been critical of the administration's policies, particularly on the economy and security. His campaign has focused on competence, integrity, and a break from the past, and he has positioned himself as the candidate best equipped to address Nigeria's challenges.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the debate over opposition unity is likely to intensify. Adeyanju's intervention has added another layer of controversy to an already crowded and contentious political field. For now, the question he has raised is one that every opposition-minded voter will have to answer: is a vote for Obi a vote for change, or is it a vote that ultimately helps Tinubu? The answer will determine the shape of the 2027 contest.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments