Former Kano State Governor and National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has delayed his planned defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid doubts over the assurance that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi will win the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general election, sources close to the process said.
Kwankwaso’s potential move to the ADC has been the subject of sustained political negotiations involving committees from both his Kwankwasiya Movement and the ADC.
The discussions have centred on a possible alliance that could present a joint presidential ticket featuring Obi in 2027, a strategy reportedly initiated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The ADC has emerged as a focal platform for opposition figures seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming election. Obi, who contested under the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential poll, has been linked with the coalition but has not formally secured a clear ticket assurance in the ADC.
Highly placed sources within the Kwankwaso camp and the ADC said the timing of Kwankwaso’s defection is heavily tied to the perception that his candidacy could strengthen Obi’s bid for the ADC presidential nomination. However, lack of clarity about Obi’s odds of securing that ticket has slowed final commitments.
An ADC official confirmed that committees from both sides met recently in Abuja to discuss the potential defection and agreed to reconvene in the coming week to work toward a “strong conclusion.” The official said unresolved issues remain and political leaders are still engaged in discussions.
A loyalist in the Kwankwaso camp said some northern leaders and Obasanjo have urged caution, stressing that Kwankwaso’s political influence should be leveraged only with firm assurance on Obi’s ticket outcome.
The source described Kwankwaso as “the bargaining strength for Peter Obi to get the presidential ticket in the ADC.”
The NNPP spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, and ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, both declined to comment directly on the negotiations, with Abdullahi stating he was not part of any committee speaking with Kwankwaso.
The delay in Kwankwaso’s defection underscores strategic calculations within opposition negotiations ahead of the 2027 general election. Unresolved ticket assurances for Obi may complicate coalition building and present ongoing political challenges as parties and leaders position themselves for electoral contests.
Observers note that the timing and terms of defections and alliances could influence voter perceptions and opposition unity. The continued uncertainty over the ADC ticket may affect broader discussions about power rotation and ticket zoning within opposition coalitions.
Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s planned defection to the African Democratic Congress remains in flux as doubts persist over whether Peter Obi will secure the ADC’s presidential ticket for the 2027 election. Both parties continue consultations, with further meetings expected as negotiations progress.
