Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A public affairs analyst, Sumner Sambo, has described the emerging alliance between supporters of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as an “organic and encouraging” grassroots movement, one that he says is a healthy democratic development ahead of the 2027 general elections. Sambo, who is also the Director of News at Arise News, made the remark on Thursday during an interview on ‘Prime Time’, a programme on Arise Television. Speaking in the wake of the formal launch of the Obi‑Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, which has already appointed coordinators at the state, zonal and national levels, Sambo expressed delight that the push for a joint ticket is being driven by supporters rather than the potential candidates themselves. “I’m very happy that these groups of supporters are coming together. This movement is indeed very organic and encouraging,” he said. “ It’s good these groups are coming together, not with the support of the potential candidates.”
The analysts’ endorsement of the joint movement comes barely 24 hours after the Obi‑Kwankwaso group announced the rollout of its nationwide structures, describing itself as a “coordinated, nationwide engine for systemic reform and national rebirth.” In a statement, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Justin Ijeh, said the movement draws from the Obidient Movement, the Kwankwasiyya political structure, the New Nigeria People’s Party and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) itself. He argued that Nigeria is at a “defining crossroads”, with economic hardship, insecurity and a soaring cost of living leaving ordinary citizens exhausted and disillusioned. Sambo, though clearly supportive of the coalition’s emergence, also urged the movement to ensure transparency in its operations, especially in the area of funding. “They have appointed coordinators from states to zonal and national; we are canvassing for transparency in their actions, especially with financing,” he added.
Sambo’s remarks also touched on the larger historical context of such alliances. He noted that the most successful political partnerships in Nigeria have traditionally been between the North and the South‑East, pointing to the First Republic pairing of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa, and the Second Republic ticket of Alex Ekwueme and Shehu Shagari. For him, the tentative Obi‑Kwankwaso alliance is a welcome echo of that “mature politics”. He contrasted it with the current divisive rhetoric that often makes it seem as if the country is headed for war, and said he was particularly heartened by Peter Obi’s recent visit to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, where Obi was received with “huge political weight” and accompanied by a very strong delegation of South‑East leaders. “When I saw Peter Obi at the Government House in Bauchi I was really happy, because he was received wholeheartedly,” Sambo said, adding that such engagements help to forge bridges between the North and the South‑East and reduce long‑standing tensions.
The Obi‑Kwankwaso Movement formally unveiled its national and state structures on Monday in Abuja, stating that it has already spread its coordinators across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The group’s emergence adds a new layer of realignment within the opposition coalition, just as the ADC prepares to hold its presidential primaries. The party is already crowded with aspirants: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that he will not step aside, while Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Tambuwal and, more recently, former Kaduna governor Nasir El‑Rufai are also positioning for the ticket. Sambo’s characterisation of the OK Movement as a grassroots, supporter‑led initiative distinguishes it from the more traditional, elite-driven political alignments that have often characterised Nigerian opposition politics. The analyst’s call for transparency, especially in financing, is a nod to the fact that such organic groups can be vulnerable to manipulation, infiltration, and the kind of vote‑buying that many Nigerians have come to detest.
At the same time, the movement has itself raised alarm over attempts by what it calls “political mercenaries and fifth columnists” to infiltrate its ranks. The Deputy Director‑General (North) of the OK Movement, Ambassador Auwal Musa Muhammad, told a press conference in Abuja that there are credible indications that individuals linked to the major political parties are trying to create parallel structures under the movement’s name in order to sow discord and weaken what he described as a growing national coalition. He urged all support groups to operate under a single, centralised coordination to avoid confusion and prevent agents of chaos from penetrating the organisation. Muhammad argued that the organic surge of support for a potential Obi‑Kwankwaso ticket is a “national rescue mission” and that those attempting to disrupt it are doing so because they fear the change such a coalition would bring.
While the OK Movement insists that both Obi and Kwankwaso have agreed to work together, the question of who will lead the ticket remains unresolved. Justin Ijeh, the movement’s publicity secretary, has said that the specifics of who will be the presidential candidate and who the running mate will be communicated by the two principals themselves at the appropriate time. What is central, he stresses, is that a collaboration has been agreed. For now, the movement is focused on expanding its grassroots presence and consolidating its structures, arguing that the country cannot afford to have only a tiny fraction of eligible voters determine who governs Nigeria. Sambo’s intervention and the movement’s careful messaging suggest that the push for an Obi‑Kwankwaso ticket is likely to remain a dominant theme in the run‑up to the ADC primaries and beyond, whether or not the two leaders eventually find a formula that satisfies both their ambitions and their supporters’ demands.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments