Fresh permutations ahead of the 2027 general election have emerged, with reports indicating that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is actively working to unite two major opposition figures—Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso—on a single presidential ticket.
According to Daily Trust, Obasanjo believes that an Obi–Kwankwaso alliance would significantly strengthen the opposition’s chances of unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next presidential election.
Both Obi and Kwankwaso, who were presidential candidates in 2023, are expected to square off against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the presidential ticket of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC), as opposition leaders intensify efforts to form a united front.
Multiple sources cited by the publication revealed that Obasanjo has gone as far as tentatively persuading Kwankwaso to consider playing second fiddle on the proposed ticket.
According to the sources, the immediate strategy is to secure the ADC presidential ticket by directly confronting Atiku at the party’s primaries.
“Kwankwaso went to Abeokuta to meet Baba Obasanjo last week, and Baba told him to join the ADC and accept to be Obi’s vice. This is similar to what General Ibrahim Babangida told him weeks earlier, although IBB did not go as far as discussing the vice-presidential slot. He only advised him to join the ADC,” one of the sources said.
The source further explained that current political realities favour Obi more than any other opposition figure.
“The thinking is that the political momentum and current dynamics, both local and international, favour an Obi presidency. Baba Obasanjo is a key promoter of Obi’s ambition. Even Atiku has acknowledged in the past that it was Baba who recommended Obi to him as vice-presidential candidate in 2019.
“The goal is to get Obi and Kwankwaso to work together in order to challenge Atiku for the ADC ticket. They know Atiku will not back down easily, and that the internal dynamics of party politics favour him. There is hardly a chance that either Obi or Kwankwaso, acting alone, can defeat Atiku at the primaries. But with both of them pulling their weight together, they believe they may stand a chance,” the source added.
Meanwhile, Kwankwaso’s camp has confirmed that high-level political engagements are ongoing. One of his close aides told the publication that discussions with key stakeholders across party lines are intensifying.
“While our party has not yet finalised its position or reached a full consensus on our path forward, we can confirm that we are engaged in high-level discussions with key stakeholders across the political spectrum, including political parties and individuals.
“Our position will very soon be known to the public. We firmly believe that Nigeria urgently requires a departure from the current environment characterised by rampant insecurity and the widespread collapse of essential systems.
“We kindly urge the public to remain patient and to continue supporting our movement as we work tirelessly towards building a better Nigeria for all citizens,” the aide said.
The aide was responding to questions surrounding a reported meeting last week involving Kwankwaso, Obasanjo, and Obi. While the former Kano State governor neither confirmed nor denied the meeting, sources insist that two strategic pathways are currently being explored to ensure that an Obi–Kwankwaso ticket becomes a major force in the 2027 presidential contest.
As opposition realignments gather momentum, Obasanjo’s behind-the-scenes role is once again placing him at the center of Nigeria’s evolving political chessboard.
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