2027: Atiku camp accuses Kwankwaso of working for Tinubu

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused the Vice Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, of seeking to advance the interests of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Kola Ologbondiyan, Director Media and Publicity, ADC-PCC in a statement slammed Kwankwaso, for his call on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ADC presidential candidate to step down in place of Peter Obi, and described the statement as reckless.

Ologbondiyan said he was reacting to Kwankwaso’s interview on Channels Television and accused the former Kano State governor of focusing on opposition leaders rather than confronting President Tinubu’s government stating that “Nigerians are eager to opt out.”

Ologbondiyan stated that Atiku would win Kano State (Kwankwaso’s home state) in the presidential election with or without Kwankwaso’s support, and stressed that “the hardship, hunger, poverty and insecurity that Nigerians face will ultimately determine their choice in the election.”

He noted that Kwankwaso’s position was particularly interesting considering his political alignment with Peter Obi and the NDC, arguing that, as a member of the opposition seeking to overthrow the ruling government, his priority was to build a stronger opposition rather than trying to weaken other opposition leaders.

“Instead of campaigning against President Tinubu, whose government Nigerians are trying so hard to elect, Kwankwaso instead fixated on Atiku Abubakar, the ADC candidate, who millions of Nigerians believe can restore economic stability and make life affordable again.”

“Having reportedly described the office of Vice President as a ‘spare tire’, he appears to be more concerned about positioning himself for the 2031 presidential election than addressing the pressing challenges facing Nigerian society today,” Ologbondiyan said.

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The ADC-PCC spokesperson argued that Kwankwaso’s actions raised questions about his true political preferences for 2027, and pointed out that his actions appeared to favor the ruling APC rather than support any opposition candidate.

But Ologbondiyan stated that history does not support the assumption that Kwankwaso’s political influence is indispensable for any presidential candidate seeking victory in Kano.

Citing the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections, Ologbondiyan recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari achieved victory in Kano despite not enjoying Kwankwaso’s support, arguing that Atiku could also win the state in 2027.

“What Kwankwaso did amounts to advancing the interests of President Tinubu. It is a common strategy of the APC to use willing collaborators in the opposition to create confusion, sow disunity and undermine collective efforts to bring about political change.

“Nigerians are wiser than that and will not allow themselves to be distracted by political maneuvers designed to save an unpopular government,” he said.

Ologbondiyan further accused Kwankwaso of having a history of political maneuvering which he said put personal ambition above the collective interests of opposition parties.

He alleged that Kwankwaso’s latest intervention was not aimed at strengthening Peter Obi’s prospects as president, but rather positioning himself for future political negotiations leading up to 2031.