RismadarVoice Reporters
October 16, 2026
Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has explained why he urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in favour of Peter Obi, insisting that his appeal was not motivated by personal differences.
Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said his position reflected his longstanding political relationship with Atiku and his belief that the time had come for a different political arrangement.
Speaking during an interview on Thursday, Kwankwaso confirmed that he wanted Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, to reconsider his ambition.
Asked directly whether he wanted Atiku to step aside, he responded, “Well, yes.”
He disclosed that he had recently encouraged a delegation of Fulani visitors from different parts of Nigeria to approach the former vice-president and appeal to him to withdraw from the contest.
According to Kwankwaso, the visitors had come to his residence on a courtesy visit when he raised the issue and asked them to communicate his position to Atiku.
The former governor stressed that his appeal should not be interpreted as hostility towards Atiku, whom he described as a political associate of more than three decades.
He traced their relationship to 1993, when both were involved in the political movement led by the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.
Kwankwaso recalled supporting Atiku’s presidential ambition under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and subsequent efforts to secure the vice-presidential nomination for him.
He said their association continued during Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule in 1999, when Olusegun Obasanjo emerged as the presidential candidate, and Atiku became his running mate.
Kwankwaso also referred to their political engagements in 2003 and 2007, claiming that Atiku received substantial support from Kano State during the 2007 presidential election despite their different party affiliations.
He further recalled working with Atiku in 2011 and competing against him for the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket ahead of the 2015 election.
In that contest, Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the party’s candidate, while Kwankwaso and Atiku also participated in the primary.
The former governor maintained that their history of political cooperation remained important, even though they now belonged to different political camps ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“What I’m trying to say is that we are not against him,” Kwankwaso said, emphasising that political circumstances and ambitions change over time.
His remarks highlight the differences among opposition figures over presidential ambitions and possible political cooperation ahead of the next general election.
Atiku has not indicated, in the account provided, that he intends to withdraw from the race in response to Kwankwaso’s appeal.
