2027: Kwankwaso rules out stepping down for ADC

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, running mate to Peter Obi on the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, ticket, has said he will not withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in favour of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, insisting the party is no improvement on the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

His position comes amid growing tension within the opposition, with Kwankwaso accusing the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, of spreading claims that the Obi–Kwankwaso ticket is working for the APC or could step down for the ADC candidate at the last minute.

In a statement on Sunday, he said the ADC campaign team was wasting energy attacking him, Obi and the NDC instead of marketing its own candidate to Nigerians.

He also dismissed suggestions that the NDC ticket was acting for the ruling party. “The OK ticket is neither working for nor acting on behalf of the APC or any of its candidates. We see no possibility or reason to withdraw from the presidential race in favour of the ADC candidate or any other,” he said.

Kwankwaso urged the ADC campaign council to respond to the allegations made against its presidential candidate by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, rather than target the NDC ticket.

He rejected the ADC’s claim to be an alternative to the APC-led government, which he accused of failing Nigerians. “The APC-led government has failed Nigerians. The ADC offers no better alternative,” he said.

Presenting the NDC as the stronger opposition platform, Kwankwaso said his ticket with Obi has the credibility, capacity and nationwide support to unite the country and tackle insecurity, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and economic challenges.

He called on supporters and other Nigerians to keep working for the party’s victory, describing the NDC as the country’s most formidable opposition party.

“I therefore urge all our supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to continue working toward the victory of our great party,” he said.

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