Kwankwaso Says NDC and ADC May Still Work Together Before 2027 Despite His Exit

Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

A former Governor of Kano State and chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has declared that the possibility of opposition collaboration ahead of the 2027 general elections remains alive, despite his recent departure from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). In a Monday interview on Arise Television, Kwankwaso dismissed concerns that his defection had permanently fractured opposition ranks, insisting that cooperation with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who remains in the ADC, is still within reach before the next presidential poll.

Kwankwaso’s remarks offer the most detailed public account yet of the calculations that drove him and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi out of the ADC and into the NDC, while simultaneously leaving the door open for a broader realignment that could include Atiku’s camp. The former governor was unequivocal that the decision to exit the ADC was not driven by any personal animosity toward Atiku or other party leaders. “I personally, and I think even Obi himself, decided to leave ADC not because we are fighting with Atiku or anybody there,” he said. “We decided to leave that party because we realised that there are some issues.” Kwankwaso disclosed that the ADC is grappling with “three major unresolved problems” that he believes may make it impossible for the party to field candidates in 2027, though he declined to elaborate on the specifics, pointing to lingering leadership litigation, a move by the Attorney General of the Federation to seek deregistration of the ADC, and a Federal High Court ruling that invalidated the party’s last convention.

Despite the defections, Kwankwaso has been careful to avoid closing the door on Atiku entirely. When asked directly whether cooperation with Atiku remains possible, Kwankwaso pointed to the fluid nature of politics. “Now, we may still work together before the election,” he said. “Politics is just like a game. I’m not fighting anybody. I think we are past that level now.” He also reflected on his shared political history with Atiku, recalling serving as his northern coordinator during the 2019 presidential election and competing alongside him in the 2015 APC presidential primary in Lagos. These experiences, he suggested, demonstrate that political partnerships between them were not new.

Beyond party calculations, Kwankwaso has been open about his personal confidence in Peter Obi. He revealed that northern political leaders conducted a deliberate assessment of potential allies before settling on Obi as the most capable partner to prosecute the 2027 campaign. “We looked around together with our leadership in the north to say, okay, who do we think is capable? Who can come and work together with us … along the line, we realised that Peter Obi is at the forefront of it,” he told other reporters.

Kwankwaso also shared that his own daughter had advised him to work with Obi during the 2023 elections, a suggestion that helped nudge the alliance forward. He has since affirmed complete allegiance to the NDC’s zoning arrangement, which has reserved the presidential ticket for the South, and has repeatedly stated that he is ready to serve as running mate to any southern candidate the party produces. “If the party decides that I will be anybody’s running mate from the South, I am ready,” he said.

For Kwankwaso, the immediate priority is to stabilise the NDC as a viable vehicle for change while keeping communication channels open with other opposition blocs, including Atiku’s followers. “I have no issue with that,” he said when asked about Atiku’s recent claim that his popularity was largely confined to Kano State. “We might still work together before the election days.”

Whether Atiku will reciprocate remains the central question of Nigeria’s 2027 opposition realignment. For now, Kwankwaso has made his position clear: the door remains open, but the train has already left the ADC station.

📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews