Atiku is facing mounting pressure to shelve his 2027 presidential ambition as the Kwankwassiyya movement led by former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and the Obidient movement loyal to former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi join forces ahead of the ADC primary election. The former vice president’s camp is shaking. And the man who once held the opposition together is now being told to step aside.
The Emerging Alliance
While Atiku’s camp, led by Dele Momodu, is pushing hard for an Atiku-Obi ticket, other party faithful are rooting for Obi and Kwankwaso to fly the ADC flag. Reports indicate that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is behind the push for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, while he is also advocating a unified opposition against President Bola Tinubu.
Political insiders say the renewed call for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket is aimed at weakening Atiku’s grip on the opposition and preventing a repeat of the fragmented 2023 contest, when the opposition vote was split multiple ways, handing victory to Tinubu.
The spokesperson of the Kwankwassiyya Movement, Habibu Mohammad, in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, expressed optimism that Obi and Kwankwaso will emerge as presidential and vice presidential candidates of the ADC. “We are working together and talks are ongoing to make sure that we achieve something in common,” he said.
“I can confirm to you that the alignment is taking a shift. My principal is actually willing to get involved in anything that can legally take Tinubu out of office. He is open to any role. My principal, Kwankwaso, has agreed to deputize Obi. He is ready for anything that will help ADC unseat President Tinubu.”
The Pressure on Atiku
ADC stakeholders, both in the North and Southern parts of the country, are mounting pressure on Atiku to step down for the younger generation. While some party bigwigs are reportedly reaching out to the former VP covertly, others have publicly voiced their stance.
Recently, Anambra Central Senator Victor Umeh, in an interview on national TV, said Atiku should give way for those younger than him, stating that the former VP is a respected figure in Nigerian politics but has been running for the presidency since 2003 — more than two decades of failed attempts.
Similarly, popular media analyst and blogger Jimi Disu said President Tinubu will still win the election if ADC fields Atiku. According to him, Atiku would be regarded as a hero if he agreed to step down for a younger person. “Atiku would be a hero if he stepped aside. It doesn’t have to be him. If it’s Atiku versus Tinubu in 2027, I can already predict the result,” he said.
Atiku’s Stand
Atiku has maintained that none of the other presidential aspirants in the ADC can match his electoral strength, especially in the Northern Region. The former VP said that Kwankwaso no longer dominates Kano, stressing that the state is now split between Kwankwaso and Governor Abba Yusuf.
However, Atiku has publicly pledged to support any consensus candidate that emerges democratically, stating: “Yes, I will step aside for any winner.” When asked if that includes Obi, he replied: “Of course, if he is a contender, why not?”
The pledge sounds open. But his supporters are not having it.
The Battle Lines
The battle for the ADC presidential ticket has triggered division between Atiku’s supporters and those clamoring for Obi and Kwankwaso. One of Atiku’s top online supporters, AbdulAziz Na’ibi Abubakar, threatened in a recent post on X that there would be a nationwide protest if Atiku steps down for any other aspirant.
“If Atiku decides to step down for another candidate ahead of 2027, a nationwide protest will inevitably follow. Nigerians will not settle for missing another chance to experience good governance and true democracy,” he said.
The post attracted heavy backlash, especially from Obi-Kwankwaso supporters, who rejected AbdulAziz’s view and insisted that the ADC can only win if Obi is on the ballot.
Buttressing AbdulAziz’s stance, the Arewa Source in a post on X declared: “Peter Obi supporters are his biggest enemies. The North will reject any ticket with Peter Obi on the ballot. Insulting Atiku Abubakar is the same as insulting the whole of Northern Nigeria.”
The Stakes
The Kwankwassiyya and Obidient movements are now aligning ahead of the primary. Instead of going solo individually, they are putting forces together. The primary election, insiders note, is not going to be delegates like before, which makes the alliance even more significant.
“We are forging together to give a good outing against those who want to use dollars,” the Kwankwassiyya spokesperson said. “We are not going to give in to any primary that is not credible. We are praying and expecting Atiku to play the role of father to us all so that we can continue to give him the respect he deserves.”
An ADC chieftain, Austin Okai, while reacting to the media war, called on supporters of Atiku and Obi to halt the exchanges between their camps. Okai warned that the escalating rhetoric could further deepen political tensions ahead of the future election.
The Bottom Line
Atiku Abubakar is under mounting pressure to step down from the 2027 presidential race as the Kwankwasiyya and Obidient movements join forces behind a potential Obi-Kwankwaso ticket. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is reportedly backing the push. Senator Victor Umeh and analyst Jimi Disu have publicly called on Atiku to give way for younger candidates.
The Kwankwassiyya spokesperson confirmed that Kwankwaso has agreed to deputize Obi. The two movements are aligning to ensure they control the ADC primary. Atiku has pledged to step aside for any democratically chosen candidate, but his supporters are threatening nationwide protests if he does.
The ADC primary is shaping up to be a battle between experience and momentum, between the old guard and the new alliance. And the man who has run for president since 2003 is being told that 2027 may not be his turn after all.
