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Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has called on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest, citing his age and health and urging him to concentrate on his traditional role as Wazirin Adamawa.
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Kwankwaso made the appeal while receiving members of the Fulani Farmers Association at his Abuja residence, asking them to visit Atiku and deliver the message in Fulfulde so that the former vice-president would reconsider his ambition.
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The former Kano State governor said Atiku should step aside for the younger opposition forces, promising that if the NDC wins the 2027 election, he and Peter Obi would take good care of the former vice-president.
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The fresh call comes amid continuing efforts to unite opposition forces against President Bola Tinubu, but the emergence of Atiku as the ADC presidential candidate and Obi as the NDC candidate has intensified competition within the opposition camp.
September 11, (THEWILL) – The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has asked former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and concentrate on his traditional responsibilities as the Wazirin Adamawa.
Kwankwaso made the call when he received members of the Fulani Farmers Association who visited him at his Abuja residence.
The former Kano State governor specifically urged the visitors to approach Atiku and appeal to him in Fulfulde to abandon his presidential ambition, citing his age and health.
“Go to the Wazirin of Adamawa’s house and tell him in Fulani that he needs to focus on his traditional title of Wazirin, given his age and health”, Kwankwaso said.
He also appealed to Atiku’s supporters to persuade the former vice-president to step aside from the 2027 contest.
Kwankwaso, who is running as the vice-presidential candidate to Peter Obi on the NDC platform, said Atiku would not be abandoned if the opposition party eventually wins the election.
“If Allah grants us success, we will take good care of him, especially since you all come from Adamawa. An apology should be offered to him”, he stated.
Opposition Coalition Under Pressure
Kwankwaso’s appeal comes against the background of prolonged efforts to bring major opposition figures and parties together under a common platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The coalition effort had been driven largely by concerns that the opposition could split its votes among several presidential candidates, as happened in the 2023 election.
Atiku, who contested the 2023 election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has since moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate for 2027.
Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election as the Labour Party candidate, has emerged as the NDC presidential candidate, with Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The development has effectively placed the two prominent northern and southern opposition figures on separate presidential tickets, despite previous attempts to build a unified opposition structure.
Kwankwaso’s latest appeal to Atiku could therefore further sharpen the competition over which opposition candidate should lead the challenge against Tinubu.
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Atiku Says 2027 May Be Final Bid
Atiku, who has pursued the presidency for decades, has previously acknowledged that the 2027 election could be his final attempt at securing the office.
In April, he said the 2027 contest could be his “last outing,” citing the stakes involved and his advancing age.
Atiku has contested the presidency several times, including the 2007, 2019 and 2023 elections, after earlier attempts to secure the presidency during Nigeria’s democratic transition.
His latest presidential bid has been built around an agenda of restructuring, economic liberalisation, greater devolution of powers and private-sector-led economic growth.
Atiku has consistently argued that Nigeria’s federal structure requires fundamental reforms to make the country more economically productive, politically stable and administratively efficient.
His supporters have also maintained that his extensive political experience and knowledge of Nigeria’s economy and federal system remain assets in the effort to unseat the APC.
Kwankwaso and Atiku were both prominent members of the PDP before their political paths diverged. Kwankwaso served as governor of Kano State and later represented the state in the Senate, while Atiku served as vice-president under President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.
Kwankwaso was also the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2023, finishing fourth behind Tinubu, Atiku and Obi.
His decision to join forces with Obi for 2027 has consequently transformed the political equation, creating a formidable opposition ticket but also putting him directly at odds with Atiku’s ADC candidacy.
The major challenge confronting the opposition ahead of 2027 is not only how to defeat Tinubu but also how to agree on who should lead the challenge.
Atiku’s supporters have argued that his experience, political network and repeated presidential contests give him the capacity to confront the APC. Obi’s camp, on the other hand, has continued to project the NDC ticket as an alternative built around a new political direction and a break from the established political order.
Kwankwaso’s latest comments indicate that the rivalry is no longer limited to party structures but is increasingly becoming a contest over the political future of the opposition itself.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
