The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of advancing President Bola Tinubu’s political interests by urging former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in favour of Peter Obi.
The council described Kwankwaso’s position as self-serving, alleging that it could deepen divisions within the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement, the ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, criticised Kwankwaso over comments he made during an interview on Channels Television.
Ologbondiyan accused the former governor of concentrating on opposition figures rather than challenging the Tinubu administration, which he said faced growing public dissatisfaction over economic hardship and insecurity.
He also expressed confidence in Atiku’s political strength in Kano State, arguing that the former vice president could secure support in the state regardless of Kwankwaso’s position.
According to the ADC-PCC spokesman, rising living costs, hunger, poverty and insecurity would be significant issues in voters’ decisions ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ologbondiyan questioned Kwankwaso’s position on the opposition, particularly his political alignment with Peter Obi and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing that opposition leaders should focus on their common political objectives rather than criticise one another.
“Rather than campaigning against President Tinubu, whose administration Nigerians are eagerly working to vote out, Kwankwaso is fixated on Atiku Abubakar, the ADC candidate, whom millions of Nigerians believe can restore economic stability and make life affordable again,” he said.
The ADC-PCC spokesman further alleged that Kwankwaso was more concerned about his future political ambitions than the immediate challenges facing Nigerians.
“Why is Kwankwaso so obsessed with Atiku? The answer may lie in his own political calculations. Having reportedly described the office of the Vice President as a ‘spare tyre’, he appears more concerned about positioning himself for the 2031 presidential election rather than addressing the urgent challenges confronting Nigerians today,” Ologbondiyan added.
He also accused Kwankwaso of indirectly benefiting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by creating divisions among opposition parties.
“What Kwankwaso is doing amounts to advancing President Tinubu’s interests. It is a familiar APC strategy to use willing collaborators within the opposition to create confusion, sow division and weaken the collective efforts to bring about political change,” he said.
Ologbondiyan maintained that Kwankwaso’s backing was not a prerequisite for winning Kano State, citing the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections, when former President Muhammadu Buhari secured victories in the state without Kwankwaso’s support.
He also questioned whether Kwankwaso’s influence in Kano translated into nationwide electoral strength, referring to his fourth-place finish in the 2023 presidential election.
The ADC-PCC further alleged that Kwankwaso’s support for Obi was partly driven by personal political ambitions and possible future negotiations.
The allegations reflect growing tensions among opposition figures as political alignments and discussions over possible alliances gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.