Former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has openly dismissed the notion of a bitter political rivalry with former vice president Atiku Abubakar, insisting that a merger between the NDC and the ADC remains a plausible scenario ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking during a recent television interview, Kwankwaso made it clear that while he and his political associate Peter Obi recently left the African Democratic Congress for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, that decision was not driven by any personal conflict with Atiku. Instead, he pointed to three unresolved internal challenges within the ADC that made it difficult for the party to present credible candidates. Kwankwaso stopped short of detailing those issues but stressed that the opposition family should not be written off as fragmented. He recalled that he once served as Atiku’s northern coordinator during the 2019 presidential race, proving that cooperation between them is neither new nor impossible.
The remarks come shortly after Atiku asserted that Kwankwaso’s political influence is largely confined to Kano State and further diluted by Governor Abba Yusuf’s own followership. Atiku also described himself as the most popular northern politician of his generation. Rather than engage in a war of words, Kwankwaso urged political observers to wait for the election outcome before concluding that votes in his stronghold would be split. He described politics as a game and said he holds no grudges, calling on everyone to rise above personal attacks.
The opposition landscape has grown increasingly volatile in recent months. The ADC was once seen as a potential coalition vehicle that would bring together Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso to challenge President Bola Tinubu. However, disagreements over zoning of presidential tickets, disputes over delegates’ lists, and a series of court cases questioning the legitimate leadership of the party eventually undermined that effort. In response, Obi and Kwankwaso led a wave of defections to the NDC, taking along several lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly. Political analysts believe this realignment could significantly change the dynamics of the 2027 election.
Despite operating from different platforms for now, Kwankwaso left the door firmly open for a future reunion. He argued that tomorrow’s political arrangements are not set in stone and that a powerful opposition alliance may still come together before the next presidential poll. As the clock ticks toward 2027, his comments suggest that leading opposition figures recognize the cost of staying divided and may yet set aside their differences for a common goal.
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