Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is reportedly backing the presidential ambition of the Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, amid efforts by some stakeholders within and outside the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to float a joint presidential ticket of him and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
BEYOND AFRICA learnt that Obasanjo is widely believed not only to be sympathetic to the idea but also the key promoter of Peter Obi’s ambition and supportive of broader efforts to build a credible opposition coalition.
According to Daily Trust, multiple sources who spoke on the development said that the push cuts across party lines and includes senior opposition politicians, power brokers and some retired military officers.
The renewed push comes after the 2023 election, in which both Peter Obi and Kwankwaso recorded largely regional performances, and Obasanjo is reportedly encouraging the joint ticket because the duo represents a more viable alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC) than any standalone candidacy.
Obasanjo Still Backing Peter Obi
Speaking on the development, Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, confirmed that the former President continues to support Peter Obi’s presidential ambition, as he did during the 2023 election.
He said, “That one I can confirm, yes. I can confirm his support for Obi’s presidential ambition.”
Akinyemi denied knowledge of any meeting or directive by Obasanjo to ADC leaders on producing Peter Obi–Kwankwaso ticket.
He added, “How do I know if they gave a mandate when I am not aware there was a meeting?”
It Is Not Agenda Within ADC
Meanwhile, a senior ADC member who spoke with Daily Trust on the development said that while the Peter Obi–Kwankwaso idea is being widely debated among party members and opposition stakeholders, it has not been formally adopted or discussed within the party’s decision-making organs.
He said, “The issue of pairing Obi with Kwankwaso has been on since the last election. Many leaders believe that if Obi had run with Kwankwaso in 2023, they might have won. They see it as a missed opportunity.
“What I know is that this is being discussed in several opposition quarters, but it has not become an agenda within the ADC as a party. It is more of party members and leaders thinking aloud and weighing which ticket can best remove the APC from power.”
In response to claims that retired generals are actively driving the push, the ADC chieftain said Obasanjo’s long-standing support for Peter Obi was no secret.
The source added, “You are aware that former President Obasanjo is a fan of Obi. He is championing the Obi ticket. Whether he has spoken to other retired generals is possible, but I cannot confirm that.”
Another party insider suggested that the firmness of Peter Obi’s supporters may be tied to behind-the-scenes assurances.
The source added that the ADC’s rising profile has attracted interest from across the opposition spectrum, including factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The source said, “For Obi’s supporters to insist on ‘Obi or nothing’, they must have been promised something,” the source said. “What I know is that meetings, discussions and dialogue are ongoing.
“What the ADC wants to avoid is a situation where members go their separate ways after the primaries. That is why there is a strong feeling that the party must agree on a consensus direction before getting to that stage.
“Prominent Nigerians are interested in the ADC. That is why it has become a rallying point. Even the PDP you see today may work with the ADC when the time comes,” the source said.
“You know the Wike group is working with the APC, and as it stands, the Turaki-led leadership is closer to the ADC than the APC. If they cannot get what they want, they will align with the ADC.
“So, those talking about retired generals are not far from the truth. Many leaders within and outside the ADC believe an Obi–Kwankwaso ticket will sell better, especially because Atiku will still be weighed down by zoning arguments and concerns about age.”
