Veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Reuben Abati, has said the defection of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, could significantly reshape the opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Tuesday, Abati noted that Kwankwaso’s move, alongside his supporters from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has strengthened the ADC and positioned it as a coalition platform for key opposition figures.
Abati emphasized the strategic importance of Kano State in presidential elections, noting its 44 local government areas and large voter population, describing it as a critical battleground, alongside Rivers and Lagos states.
He added that Kwankwaso, regarded as a dominant political figure in Kano, could significantly influence the dynamics of the 2027 race following his defection.
The analyst, however, raised questions over the internal dynamics within the ADC, particularly regarding the party’s presidential ticket.
He noted that Kwankwaso has long expressed presidential ambition, and queried whether he would secure the party’s ticket, emerge as a running mate, or be part of a broader political arrangement.
Abati also referenced ongoing speculations about a possible alliance between Kwankwaso and Obi, while questioning how such a development might affect the political standing of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar within the party.
He said: “Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso has now moved with his NNPP and Kwankwansiya supporters to the ADC.
What has happened with that movement is that the ADC has been strengthened, and it now has a collection of, you know, frontline opposition figures. You have Peter Obi there. You have Rotimi Amaechi there. You have you Atiku Abubakar also there.
“And Kano, as I’ve stated previously on this platform, is a very important platform in Nigerian elections. You are talking about 44 local government councils. You are talking about a large proportion of voters.
There are some states that you need to win in this country if you want to be president. Kano is one of them, also Rivers, and Lagos.
And now you have the most prominent politician today in Kano state joining the ADC.
“He was supposed to have joined the APC. We were told that there were conversations, but then his godson, the governor of the state, joined the APC before him.
“Kano state is going to be a major battleground in 2027. However, Dr Kwankwaso has always made it clear that he wants to be president of Nigeria.
Now, would they give him the ticket? Will he become a running mate to another person? I’ve been seeing people saying ‘PitaKwa’ 2027, suggesting that he will be a running mate to Peter Obi of the ADC. Is that going to work?
“Is that going to play out? Where does that leave Waziri Adamawa, our former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, will he also just sit back and allow ‘Pitakwa’ in the ADC?
So we’re just seeing the early moments of the drama, and there’s going to be a lot of drama, either from the politicians themselves or from the entertainment”.
