Fresh indications of a possible opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections have emerged following a high-profile meeting on Sunday between Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Peter Obi in Kano, with growing speculation that both figures could align under ADC (African Democratic Congress) in a potential presidential ticket arrangement.
Recall that, in recent weeks, Kwankwaso is widely reported to be weighing a defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the African Democratic Congress, a move that could reshape opposition dynamics if it materialises alongside a strategic partnership with Obi who is already positioning himself as the strongest flagbearer of the party.
Sunday’s meeting, which also had Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former Bayelsa governor Seriake Dickson in attendance, drew a large crowd of people, was officially framed as a Sallah visit. Sharing images from the gathering, Kwankwaso wrote, “Delighted to host Their Excellencies, Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde, and Seriake Dickson at my Kano residence for this joyful Sallah celebration.”
Yet beyond the festive optics, the convergence of key political actors, cutting across party lines, has intensified conversations about a broader realignment, particularly as discussions around coalition-building gather momentum in order to vote out the Tinubu-led administration come 2027.
Obi, while downplaying political undertones, hinted at a long-term vision for northern Nigeria’s economic revival during his address at the Kwankwassiya Sallah gathering.
“I’m here to felicitate with you on the occasion of Sallah and to pay my respect to our leader. So thank you.”
“We want to change Kano. We want to build a new Kano. What we want to do is bring back the power of Kano —all those factories in Bompai, Sharada 1, Sharada 2, Bank of the North — we want to bring all of them back. Today is not politics; it is the celebration of Sallah”, he added.
Nonetheless, many consider the visit’s timing to be important. It coincides with rumours that Kwankwaso has started negotiations with ADC stakeholders through middlemen in the wake of internal NNPP disagreements, including a recent appellate court decision that upheld the leadership of a rival party.
The ADC’s increasing grassroots support in Kano, along with individuals like Ibrahim Ali Amin, has increased the party’s appeal as a platform for a possible alliance. There are plans for inclusive primaries rather than consensus processes, according to party sources, and negotiations regarding structure and candidate selection are still ongoing.
The optics of Obi’s visit to Kwankwaso have fuelled speculation that both men may be testing the waters for a joint political endeavour, possibly as presidential and vice-presidential candidates under the ADC, even though no formal agreement has been revealed.
