Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, is said to be weighing his options ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the candidacy of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, a pending court case involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the possible entry of former President Goodluck Jonathan identified as major concerns.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the ADC, is reportedly viewing the 2027 poll as his best chance yet to win the presidency after several previous attempts.
Sources in his camp who spoke with New Telegraph said President Bola Tinubu was not considered the biggest obstacle on Atiku’s political chessboard, arguing that the North may not give the President the level of support he enjoyed in 2023.
Sources said Atiku’s camp was still unhappy over Obi’s exit from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he later picked Kwankwaso as running mate.
According to the sources, Atiku’s strategists believed an Atiku/Obi ticket would have given the opposition a stronger chance against Tinubu.
An Atiku ally said, “The truth is that Obi’s exit pained Atiku. It shattered all plans. Anybody in ADC that tells you Obi’s exit with Kwankwaso did not pain him is telling you a lie.
“Till date, it still pains because with an Atiku/Obi ticket, there is no doubt that there would surely be a new government on May 29, 2027. But as it is, the situation is what it is. We have to go with alternative plans.”
Atiku’s Considers Running Mate Options
It was gathered that Atiku is now considering other options for the vice-presidential slot.
Those reportedly under consideration include former Imo State governor and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; and former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Austin Akobundu.
Makinde has already picked the presidential ticket of the Allied Peoples Movement, raising questions over whether the Electoral Act would allow him to move to the ADC.
“Makinde is being considered in line with the Ibadan declaration, where all the opposition parties agreed to field a single presidential candidate,” an Atiku aide said.
Pressure Mounts On Bala
Another concern for Atiku’s camp is the court case filed by Nafiu Bala against the ADC leadership.
Sources said some Northern groups and personalities were pressuring Bala to abandon the case so he would not be seen as working against what they described as a Northern agenda.
It was learnt that Bala had been told that an Atiku or opposition victory over Tinubu should override other considerations.
The report also claimed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had preferred an Obi/Kwankwaso ticket as the opposition’s unity ticket against Tinubu.
However, some ADC leaders reportedly opposed zoning and insisted that the party should back the strongest candidate, regardless of region.
A party chieftain said, “We were aware that Obasanjo wanted Obi/Kwankwaso as the opposition’s unity candidate, but some people believed that Obi would honour his pact with Atiku. We never expected that he would leave for the NDC.”
‘Obi/Kwankwaso Ticket Worries Us’
Some ADC leaders said Obi’s alliance with Kwankwaso remained a major concern because of the uncertainty around how much influence the former Kano governor could command beyond Kano in 2027.
A top ADC chieftain said the possible entry of Jonathan into the race could also alter calculations.
The chieftain said, “No two cycles of elections are the same! That is why we are worried about the Obi/Kwankwaso ticket. In 2023, Kwankwaso’s influence was limited to Kano.
“But in 2027, you don’t know what the voters would do. We don’t know how far Kwankwaso can penetrate the North. Also, don’t forget Jonathan. If he enters the race, the equation would change completely.
“That is because his doing just four years is certain. That would cause another problem. But if he doesn’t run, then our main headache is Obi. Tinubu can’t get Northern votes like in 2023.”
Sources said Atiku is banking on block votes from the North, a strong showing in the South-South and a competitive battle with Tinubu and Obi in Lagos.
The ADC camp is also hoping that Osun, which Atiku won in 2023, could remain favourable because of the influence of ADC National Secretary and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
An Atiku aide dismissed the presidential candidacy of former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party, saying he was not a major factor.
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