Obasanjo reportedly backs push for 2027 Obi-Kwankwaso joint ticket

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is reportedly backing the presidential ambition of Labour Party’s Peter Obi while also supporting broader efforts to form a joint opposition ticket with former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Multiple sources indicate that Obasanjo is not only sympathetic to the idea but is a key promoter of Obi’s ambition and of building a credible opposition coalition. This push is said to involve senior politicians, power brokers, and retired military officers across party lines.

The renewed effort follows the 2023 election, where both Obi and Kwankwaso recorded strong regional performances. Obasanjo reportedly sees a joint ticket as a more viable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) than either candidate running alone.

Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, confirmed the former president’s continued support for Obi’s ambition, stating, “That one I can confirm, yes. I can confirm his support for Obi’s presidential ambition.” However, he denied knowledge of any specific meeting or directive from Obasanjo to ADC leaders regarding a joint ticket.

A senior African Democratic Congress (ADC) member said the idea of an Obi-Kwankwaso pairing has been widely debated since the last election but has not been formally adopted by the party’s decision-making organs.

“The issue of pairing Obi with Kwankwaso has been on since the last election. Many leaders believe that if Obi had run with Kwankwaso in 2023, they might have won,” the ADC chieftain said. He added that Obasanjo’s support for Obi is well-known, suggesting he may be championing the idea.

Another party insider indicated that the ADC’s rising profile is attracting interest from across the opposition spectrum, including factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The source suggested that behind-the-scenes discussions are ongoing to build consensus and avoid a fragmented opposition.u

“Prominent Nigerians are interested in the ADC. That is why it has become a rallying point,” the source said, noting that a joint Obi-Kwankwaso ticket is viewed by many as a stronger sell against the APC, especially given zoning and age concerns potentially affecting other potential candidates.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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