Obi, Kwankwaso Alliance Talks Stir Debate Among Northern Political Stakeholders

Reports that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and New Nigeria Peoples Party leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso are exploring a political alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections sparked significant debate this week, with northern political stakeholders expressing strong reservations about the proposed partnership.

Political analysts and party sources said preliminary discussions between allies of both camps had been ongoing for several weeks, with some supporters arguing that a combined Obi-Kwankwaso ticket could mount the most credible challenge to the APC in 2027. The 2023 election showed that both candidates had complementary geographic strongholds, with Obi drawing strong support in southeastern Nigeria and among urban youth while Kwankwaso commanded deep loyalty in the northwest, particularly Kano State.

However, senior northern political figures pushed back strongly against the idea, describing a potential alliance as impractical and warning that any attempt to build a coalition around Obi would face fierce resistance in the north, where questions about zoning and regional equity in presidential succession remain sensitive. Sources in Kwankwaso’s NNPP said the party had not taken any formal decision on an alliance and that all options remained open.

Obi Warns Youths Against Over-Reliance on Clerics

Peter Obi, meanwhile, addressed a youth engagement gathering in Lagos on Saturday where he urged young Nigerians to stop expecting religious leaders like Pastor Enoch Adeboye to drive political change on their behalf. ‘Don’t expect Adeboye to champion change at 84. Resist political manipulation,’ Obi said, calling on youths to take direct responsibility for the quality of Nigeria’s democracy.

Furthermore, Obi appealed to Labour Party members to accept the outcomes of the party’s internal primaries and work together for unity ahead of 2027. He also called for an independent judiciary and stronger institutions as the bedrock of democratic governance, a message that resonated with civil society groups monitoring the 2027 race.

Meanwhile, the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance has drawn commentary from across the political spectrum. APC chieftains dismissed it as a recycled opposition strategy that had failed in 2023, while PDP officials said any effective opposition in 2027 would require a single, united front rather than multiple fragmented tickets. Notably, former Senate President Bukola Saraki’s name has also been floated in alliance discussions in some quarters. Consequently, the 2027 opposition landscape remains in a state of fluid negotiation with no firm coalition yet formalised.

Accord Party Disowns 2027 Presidential Candidate

In addition, the Accord Party publicly disowned Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its 2027 presidential candidate, refunding his N50 million nomination fee after the party said he failed to meet the submission deadline and his primary was not recognised by the national leadership. Olawepo-Hashim rejected the position and said he intended to contest the decision. As a result, the 2027 presidential race continues to produce unexpected twists across parties, underlining the fluid nature of Nigeria’s opposition politics.