Key Takeaways

• ADC’s reaction: The ADC Presidential Campaign Council criticised Kwankwaso over his reported call for Atiku to step down.
• Tinubu allegation: The council accused Kwankwaso of advancing Tinubu’s political interests. This remains the ADC’s allegation.
• Peter Obi: According to the report, Kwankwaso wanted Atiku to withdraw in favour of Obi.
• Opposition unity: Ologbondiyan argued that Kwankwaso’s position could create divisions among opposition figures.
• Atiku’s candidacy: The ADC campaign council described Atiku as its preferred candidate for challenging Tinubu in 2027.
• Unanswered questions: The supplied report does not contain a direct response from Kwankwaso or Tinubu to the accusations.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has criticised Rabiu Kwankwaso over his reported call for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to step down ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, described Kwankwaso’s remarks as a desperate attempt to advance President Bola Tinubu’s political interests. He also questioned Kwankwaso’s commitment to the opposition’s efforts to defeat Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Why Kwankwaso Called on Atiku to Step Down

Kwankwaso, identified in the supplied report as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, reportedly made the remarks during an interview with Channels Television.

According to the report, he said he had asked some Fulani groups to persuade Atiku to withdraw from the presidential race in favour of Peter Obi.

The comments prompted a response from the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, which challenged Kwankwaso’s position and questioned his motives ahead of the 2027 election.

ADC Accuses Kwankwaso of Advancing Tinubu’s Political Interests

In a statement, Ologbondiyan said the council considered Kwankwaso’s call for Atiku to step aside to be self-serving. He argued that the move could benefit Tinubu politically rather than strengthen the opposition’s efforts to challenge the APC.

The statement read:

“The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has berated Senator @KwankwasoRM over his call for former Vice President @atiku Abubakar to step down for Mr @PeterObi, describing the statement as reckless, self-serving and a desperate attempt to advance President @officialABAT’s political interests ahead of the 2027 presidential election.”

Ologbondiyan further argued that Kwankwaso was focusing on Atiku instead of directing his political criticism towards Tinubu and his administration.

“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.”

The claims about Kwankwaso’s motives and the public’s political preferences reflect the ADC campaign council’s position as presented in its statement. The supplied report does not independently establish those assertions.

Campaign Council Questions Kwankwaso’s Commitment to the Opposition

The ADC spokesperson also alleged that Kwankwaso’s position could create divisions within the opposition and weaken efforts to challenge the ruling party.

He described the situation as part of what he characterised as an APC strategy to create confusion among opposition figures.

“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.”

Ologbondiyan also questioned whether Kwankwaso’s support for Peter Obi was motivated by a shared opposition objective or personal political ambition.

“Nigerians are not fooled. There is a growing perception that Kwankwaso’s support for Peter Obi is driven more by his personal ambition than by a genuine commitment to the opposition’s collective objective of defeating the APC.”

These statements represent the ADC’s interpretation of Kwankwaso’s political position. The supplied material does not include a response from Kwankwaso addressing the accusations.

ADC Questions Kwankwaso’s Electoral Influence

The campaign council also challenged Kwankwaso’s political influence, arguing that his prominence should not automatically be equated with the ability to win a presidential election.

Ologbondiyan referred to the previous presidential election while questioning Kwankwaso’s electoral standing.

“Kwankwaso must come to terms with the realities of the national political landscape. His influence should not be confused with the capacity to win a presidential election. If his political relevance were as extensive as he suggests, why did he finish fourth in the last presidential election?”

The spokesperson contrasted this assessment with the ADC’s view of Atiku’s national political profile, pointing to his relationships across different parts of the country.

“Atiku Abubakar is a cosmopolitan, detribalised, and nationally recognised political figure who has built relationships across the North, South, East, and West over more than three decades.”

The remarks underline the campaign council’s argument for Atiku as its preferred candidate. They should be understood as the ADC’s political assessment rather than an independent evaluation of either candidate’s electoral prospects.

ADC Appeals for Support for Atiku Ahead of 2027

Despite its criticism of Kwankwaso, the ADC campaign council called on him and his allies to reconsider their position and support Atiku’s candidacy.

Ologbondiyan said the party regarded Atiku as its preferred route to challenging Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

“Our campaign, however, invites Kwankwaso and his allies to reconsider their position and support the formidable candidacy of Atiku Abubakar.”

He added:

“Atiku remains our preferred pathway to defeating President Tinubu and ending the hunger, poverty, and insecurity that the APC administration has foisted on our nation.”

The statement reinforces the ADC’s position in the emerging opposition debate ahead of the next presidential election. The supplied report does not include responses from Kwankwaso or Tinubu to the campaign council’s allegations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why did the ADC criticise Rabiu Kwankwaso?

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council criticised Kwankwaso after he reportedly called for Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in favour of Peter Obi.

2. Who issued the ADC’s statement?

The statement was issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.

3. What did the ADC accuse Kwankwaso of doing?

The council alleged that his call for Atiku to step down was self-serving and could advance President Bola Tinubu’s political interests.

4. What did Kwankwaso reportedly say about Atiku?

According to the supplied report, Kwankwaso said he had asked some Fulani groups to persuade Atiku to withdraw from the presidential race.

5. Why did the ADC defend Atiku’s candidacy?

The council described Atiku as a nationally recognised political figure and said it regarded his candidacy as its preferred route to defeating Tinubu in 2027.

6. What did the ADC say about Kwankwaso’s support for Peter Obi?

Ologbondiyan alleged that Kwankwaso’s support for Obi was driven more by personal ambition than by a genuine commitment to the opposition’s collective goal.

7. Has Kwankwaso responded to the ADC’s accusations?

The supplied article does not include a response from Kwankwaso to the ADC’s statement.

8. Have the ADC’s allegations against Kwankwaso been independently verified?

The supplied material presents the campaign council’s allegations but does not independently verify Kwankwaso’s motives or establish that he was acting to advance Tinubu’s interests.