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Obasanjo Brokered Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket, Remains Principal Sponsor – Akin Osuntokun

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Obasanjo Brokered Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket, Remains Principal Sponsor – Akin Osuntokun
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Peter Obi

Obasanjo Brokered Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket, Remains Principal Sponsor – Akin Osuntokun

A former Political Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Akin Osuntokun, has revealed that the former Nigerian leader personally brokered the political alliance between Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso and remains the principal force behind their joint presidential ticket for the 2027 election. The disclosure has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, offering a rare glimpse into the backroom negotiations shaping the opposition’s challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Osuntokun made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television on Sunday while firmly dismissing suggestions that Obasanjo was secretly working for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. He argued that such claims were inconsistent with the former president’s political actions, insisting that Obasanjo had instead played a leading role in bringing Obi and Kwankwaso together as running mates under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket.

“If you can say that Obasanjo is supporting any ticket, it is the Peter Obi–Kwankwaso ticket. As a matter of fact, he is the principal sponsor of that ticket,” Osuntokun declared during the interview. He maintained that allegations linking Obasanjo with Tinubu’s political camp lacked logic, especially considering the former president’s alleged involvement in putting the opposition ticket together. “So how do you then suggest that he is secretly working for Tinubu? It does not make sense to me. I think that claim is absolute bunkum. The evidence is in the public domain. Obasanjo is playing a major role in supporting the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket. He was the one who brought the two men together,” he added. When pressed to confirm whether Obasanjo actually brokered the ticket, Osuntokun stood firmly by his remarks. “Yes, of course. That’s what I said. He brokered the ticket between Obi and Kwankwaso. Both of them are quite close to him. It is a ticket that makes sense and has the potential to make a significant impact in the 2027 election. I can tell you for free that he was the one who brought the ticket together,” Osuntokun stated.

The former adviser also revealed that discussions for an Obi-Kwankwaso alliance could have materialized much earlier, saying talks had taken place several years before the current arrangement. “Kwankwaso could have teamed up with Obi four years ago. I remember him saying that if they had agreed then, they would probably have had an arrangement in which they would each spend one term in office, and Kwankwaso would now have been the beneficiary,” he said. He stressed that Obasanjo’s role in the alliance was already public knowledge and questioned why anyone would conclude that the former president was supporting Tinubu simply because the president visited him in 2023. Beyond the political alliance, Osuntokun also rejected claims that former President Obasanjo manipulated the 2003 elections to undermine Alliance for Democracy (AD) governors in the South-West. He described conspiracy theories surrounding that election as unfounded, insisting there were logical reasons why the AD governors lost. “I was very active during that period and I can say categorically that nothing of that sort happened. The election in which the AD governors lost can be explained state by state,” he said.

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Fresh details have emerged over the political arrangement underpinning the NDC presidential ticket, with the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, revealing that he and the presidential candidate, Peter Obi, signed a written agreement committing the former Anambra State governor to serve only a single four-year term if elected in 2027. The disclosure places the issue of power rotation at the centre of the unfolding 2027 political contest, with Kwankwaso presenting the agreement as part of a broader understanding designed to preserve national balance and sustain cooperation within the party beyond the next election cycle. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Kwankwaso said the understanding was not merely verbal but documented through formal agreements reached by both leaders. According to him, the arrangement provides that if the NDC wins the 2027 presidential election, Obi would complete one four-year tenure between 2027 and 2031, after which the presidency would return to Northern Nigeria. “We have agreed to formalise it in writing. We have executed one document for the party and another between the two of us,” Kwankwaso stated.

Responding to questions on whether Obi’s commitment to a single term could be relied upon, Kwankwaso expressed confidence that the former governor would abide by the agreement. “I personally believe him. Based on what I know about him, I don’t think he will change his mind when the time comes. We are all gentlemen, and we have accepted to put it on paper,” he said. He explained that both agreements were designed to guide the partnership throughout the life of a potential administration while laying the foundation for an orderly political transition at the end of the proposed four-year tenure. “The agreement is that after four years, we will continue to work together as a party, as friends and brothers, so that after our four-year term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North. That is the consensus,” he said. Kwankwaso also explained the circumstances that informed his decision to accept the vice-presidential nomination despite previously pursuing the presidency, saying the decision was anchored on what both leaders considered the principles of fairness, equity and national inclusion. According to him, the two politicians reached a consensus that the South should produce the president for one term before the office rotates back to the North, describing the arrangement as one intended to reinforce national cohesion and political stability.

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The formal power-sharing arrangement between Obi and Kwankwaso aligns with the broader zoning framework already adopted by the NDC at its maiden National Convention held in Abuja in May 2026. At that convention, delegates overwhelmingly endorsed a power-rotation formula designed to promote national unity and balance regional interests. Under the resolution, the NDC declared that its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election must emerge from Southern Nigeria and, if elected, serve only one term ending in 2031. After that, the party’s presidential ticket will rotate to Northern Nigeria for the next electoral cycle. The motion was moved by Afam Victor Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State, and was overwhelmingly endorsed by party delegates. Announcing the resolution, the National Chairman of the party, Moses Cleopas, said the arrangement was aimed at promoting equity, inclusiveness and stability within the growing opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections. He explained that under the agreement reached by party stakeholders, the South would produce the party’s presidential candidate in 2027 for only one term of four years, after which the ticket would automatically rotate to Northern Nigeria in 2031. “It will be the turn of the North in 2031,” Cleopas declared while addressing delegates at the convention.

Addressing delegates at the convention, Obi described the NDC as a platform for “national liberation”, insisting Nigerians would resist every attempt to undermine democracy and credible elections. The former presidential candidate warned against attempts to entrench one-party dominance in the country. “We cannot have one party in Nigeria. Nigeria must have democracy. Those who think there will be no free and fair elections in 2027 should rethink because Nigerians will insist on credible elections,” he declared. Obi also painted a grim picture of the nation’s socio-economic situation, claiming that over 140 million Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty while millions of youths remained unemployed or underemployed. “Nigeria is not poor. Nigeria was looted into poverty, and we are coming to reverse that situation,” he added. Kwankwaso, while endorsing the zoning arrangement at the convention, described it as a necessary step toward fairness, equity and national healing. “It is therefore with great sense of unity and solidarity that as a loyal party member, I support the decision to zone the presidential ticket of the NDC to the South so that it allows the region to complete its turn in producing national leadership,” he stated. He expressed optimism that the NDC would emerge as a platform for national renewal, anchored on inclusive leadership devoid of ethnic and religious bias. “This party shall also ensure to change the way things are done today by prioritising leadership without ethnic jingoism and religious favouritism,” he added.

The emergence of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket has reshaped political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Political observers believe the alliance combines Obi’s strong support among young voters, professionals and urban residents with Kwankwaso’s influence through the Kwankwasiyya Movement in Kano and parts of northern Nigeria. Supporters of the ticket argue that the partnership gives the NDC a broader national appeal by bringing together a South-East Christian and a North-West Muslim, while also reducing the fragmentation of opposition votes. The Nigeria Democratic Congress and the Obidient Movement have dismissed former National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje’s claim that the presidential ticket lacks the political legacy to win the 2027 election. Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, dismissed Ganduje’s comments as inconsequential, saying the former APC chairman had lost political relevance in Kano. He argued that Obi’s electoral performance in the 2023 presidential election demonstrated his national appeal and predicted that the former Anambra governor would attract even more votes in 2027.

However, analysts have also pointed to major challenges facing the alliance, including the organisational strength of the ruling APC, the political influence of the African Democratic Congress, and questions over whether the combined support bases of both candidates will translate into electoral victory in 2027. The APC has dismissed the NDC’s zoning arrangement as no threat to Tinubu’s second-term ambition, insisting that the ruling party remained firmly in control of the nation’s political structure ahead of the 2027 polls. APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, argued that the real political battle ahead of 2027 was not between the APC and the NDC, but among opposition parties themselves.

Akin Osuntokun, who served as Political Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, is a Nigerian political scientist, strategist, researcher, administrator, journalist and writer with experience in media advocacy, policy research and implementation and political analysis. He was later appointed Director of the Presidential Campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2011 general elections. In December 2022, he was announced by the Nigerian Labour Party as the Director General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council to lead the 2023 presidential election campaign of Peter Obi. Osuntokun has previously spoken about the fragmentation within Nigeria’s opposition parties, warning that the lack of a united coalition among key figures such as Obi, Kwankwaso and Atiku Abubakar is giving the ruling APC a clear advantage ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Obasanjo Brokered Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket, Remains Principal Sponsor – Akin Osuntokun

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Accord Party, Governor Adeleke Adopt Tinubu as 2027 Presidential Candidate

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July 26, 2026

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Governor Ademola Adeleke

Accord Party, Governor Adeleke Adopt Tinubu as 2027 Presidential Candidate

President Bola Tinubu has been adopted as the preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the national leadership of the Accord Party. The decision was reached during a meeting held on Saturday night in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, bringing together top officials of the party from across the country, including members of the National Working Committee and state chairmen. According to a statement issued on Sunday by Adeleke’s re-election campaign spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, discussions at the meeting focused on the future of the party, national development issues and preparations ahead of the forthcoming Osun governorship election. Party leaders said their support for Tinubu was influenced by the need for continuity in ongoing infrastructure projects being executed by the Federal Government, stressing that major road projects across the country should be completed without interruption.

Among the projects highlighted were the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway. The party leadership maintained that continuity would help ensure the successful delivery of the projects and their expected economic benefits. According to the party, it is crucial for the Tinubu administration to complete these ongoing legacy projects as they are critical to the country’s development. The meeting also reviewed the political atmosphere ahead of the August governorship election in Osun State. Leaders of the party called for a peaceful electoral process and urged all stakeholders to avoid actions capable of undermining the credibility of the poll. They warned against violence, intimidation of political opponents, electoral malpractice and the alleged use of security agencies to harass members of the party during the election period. The party further appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies and other relevant institutions to ensure a level playing field for all contestants.

Several national officers attended the meeting. They included the National Chairman of the Accord Party, Maxwell Mgbudem; Deputy National Chairman, Maryam Sale; National Secretary, Ajaja Abiola Adebukola; National Treasurer, Abdulazeez Oyeniyi Salaudeen; National Organising Secretary, Ibe Thankgod; and National Publicity Secretary, Omorogbe Joseph. Also present were state chairmen and other senior party officials drawn from different parts of the country. The endorsement marks another significant political development in the growing relationship between Adeleke and the Accord Party following the governor’s alignment with the platform ahead of the Osun governorship election. Party leaders at the meeting expressed confidence in Adeleke’s chances in the forthcoming poll and pledged to mobilise support structures across the state to secure victory. They also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the party nationwide while positioning it for future political contests.

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Governor Ademola Adeleke publicly reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition on several occasions, describing the move as being in the interest of Osun State and the South-West region. Speaking on May this year, during an inspection of the ongoing reconstruction work on the Ibadan-Ile Ife-Ilesa Expressway, Adeleke said his support for the President went beyond partisan politics. The governor described Tinubu as “our own son, father and leader,” insisting that he needed no persuasion to back the President’s re-election bid. “I am the governor of the ancestral birthplace of Mr President. How can I have my own in the saddle and think twice before embracing him? I need no persuasion to act as I have declared repeatedly our endorsement of Mr President,” Adeleke said. He added that the endorsement was a “moral and development-driven action” aimed at advancing the interests of Osun State and the Yoruba people. The governor maintained that supporting Tinubu would help sustain ongoing federal projects and strengthen cooperation between Osun State and the Federal Government. The position was again repeated in June, when Adeleke formally flagged off his re-election campaign in Osogbo. Addressing supporters at the event, he declared: “As we seek your votes on August 15, we also restate our endorsement of our son, father and leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for re-election in 2027. Our support for Mr President is unshaken and total.”

Despite the national leadership’s endorsement, there has been internal friction within the Accord Party regarding this move. Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, who reportedly emerged as the party’s presidential candidate through direct primaries, and his supporters have warned Governor Adeleke that his support for Tinubu could lead to internal divisions similar to those that weakened the Peoples Democratic Party. His support group, the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM), argued that Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu was made before he joined the Accord Party and should not be presented as a reflection of the party’s national position. GHSM further stated that the national leadership of Accord Party later engaged Olawepo-Hashim in March 2026 as part of efforts to build a broader political platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election, resulting in him emerging as the party’s candidate through open direct primaries. The group warned that Governor Adeleke’s approach within Accord Party could create internal contradictions similar to those that affected the PDP, stressing that political parties could only thrive when members respect party structures and collective decisions. “Accord Party must not travel the same path that weakened PDP. A political party cannot survive when individual calculations are placed above the collective aspirations of its members,” the group stated. GHSM also claimed that 24 state chairmen of the Accord Party had endorsed Olawepo-Hashim, while noting that the legal dispute surrounding the party’s presidential primary is currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The group said it would refrain from making public comments on the matter because it was already before the court.

Accord Party, Governor Adeleke Adopt Tinubu as 2027 Presidential Candidate

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Why Buhari refused to publicly endorse Tinubu before APC primary – Babachir Lawal

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July 26, 2026

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Why Buhari refused to publicly endorse Tinubu before APC primary – Babachir Lawal
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari

Why Buhari refused to publicly endorse Tinubu before APC primary – Babachir Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has disclosed that late former President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately chose not to publicly endorse President Bola Tinubu ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in 2022 because of concerns rooted in his religious beliefs, personal ethics and reservations about Tinubu’s suitability to succeed him.

Lawal made the revelation during an interview on Symfoni TV, offering fresh insight into the internal consultations and political calculations that shaped the APC‘s presidential primary, which eventually produced Tinubu as the party’s candidate for the 2023 election.

According to the former SGF, Buhari acknowledged Tinubu’s immense contributions to the APC and his role in helping the party secure electoral victories in 2015 and 2019. However, he said the former president remained conflicted over whether to openly support Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

Lawal explained that Tinubu played a critical role in Buhari’s political journey by mobilising influential political leaders, coordinating campaign strategies and strengthening the APC’s national structure during previous election campaigns.

He recalled confronting Buhari with those facts, arguing that it would be unfair to frustrate Tinubu’s ambition after benefiting from his political support.

“Bola Tinubu brought people and we changed the trajectory of the campaign through those his people. Buhari is a decent man, and I confronted him with those facts because I was there,” Lawal said.

According to Lawal, Buhari did not dispute Tinubu’s contributions but insisted that his personal convictions made it difficult for him to openly support the former Lagos State governor.

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The former SGF said that as the APC presidential primary approached, he proposed a compromise that would allow Buhari to remain neutral while leaving the final decision to party delegates.

He said he advised the former president that neutrality would protect his integrity while allowing the democratic process within the APC to determine its presidential candidate.

“I told him, ‘Stay neutral and allow the party faithful to decide. If delegates reject him, then your hands are clean because you did not stop him,'” Lawal recounted.

However, Buhari was initially unconvinced.

According to Lawal, the former president argued that if he was allowed to supervise the process, Tinubu would almost certainly emerge as the APC‘s presidential candidate because of Lawal’s political strategy and longstanding relationship with him.

“He told me, ‘I know you. Since 2002 we have worked together. If I leave the process to you, Bola Tinubu will get the ticket.’ I replied, ‘Are you now a prophet?'” Lawal said.

Lawal explained that he eventually persuaded Buhari by reminding him that even if Tinubu secured the APC ticket, Nigerians would still have the final say during the presidential election.

He also revealed that Buhari expressed concern about whether Tinubu, if elected president, would treat members of their political camp fairly and protect their political interests.

Lawal said he assured Buhari that those concerns could be addressed through continued dialogue and engagement.

Following the discussions, Buhari agreed to adopt a neutral position throughout the APC presidential primary process.

Instead of publicly endorsing any aspirant, the then president repeatedly urged delegates to vote according to their conscience and choose the candidate they believed best represented the party’s ideals.

That neutral stance became one of the defining moments of the 2022 APC presidential primary, as Buhari resisted pressure from different political interests to openly back any of the leading contenders.

At the APC Special National Convention held in Abuja in June 2022, Tinubu defeated former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President Ahmad Lawan, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, and several other aspirants to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate.

Tinubu went on to win the 2023 presidential election and was sworn in as Nigeria’s President on May 29, 2023.

Lawal’s latest comments provide one of the most detailed public accounts yet of the consultations that preceded the APC primary and have reignited debate over Buhari’s succession strategy and the internal dynamics that shaped the ruling party’s presidential ticket.

Political analysts say the revelations are likely to fuel fresh discussions within the APC as political stakeholders begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election, with Buhari’s leadership decisions continuing to attract public interest even after his death.

Why Buhari refused to publicly endorse Tinubu before APC primary – Babachir Lawal

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2027 election: Atiku accuses Obasanjo of reviving false allegations to favour preferred candidate

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11 hours ago

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July 26, 2026

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2027 election: Atiku accuses Obasanjo of reviving false allegations to favour preferred candidate
Atiku Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo

2027 election: Atiku accuses Obasanjo of reviving false allegations to favour preferred candidate

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of reviving what he described as false allegations against him to create political advantage for his “kinsman” ahead of the 2027 general election.

The fresh exchange marks another chapter in the long-running political rivalry between the two former allies, whose relationship has remained strained since the closing years of the Obasanjo administration.

The latest dispute was triggered by Obasanjo’s claim that Atiku gave the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, ₦5 million to initiate impeachment proceedings against him during his first term in office.

Obasanjo made the allegation while reflecting on political developments leading to the 2003 general election. According to the former president, Atiku allegedly held a private meeting with Na’Abba, encouraged him to ensure he served only one term as president, and later provided funds to commence impeachment proceedings.

The former president also claimed that the alleged meeting and payment were documented and reported to him by his then Chief of Staff, whom he described as a trained intelligence officer.

However, Atiku has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as baseless, politically motivated and designed to influence public perception ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said the accusations were nothing more than an attempt to rewrite history for political purposes.

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According to Atiku, the timing of the allegations raises questions, coming at a period when political consultations and alignments ahead of the next general election are gathering momentum.

He argued that the claims were intended to damage his credibility while giving an unfair political advantage to a preferred presidential hopeful whom he referred to as Obasanjo’s “kinsman.”

Although Atiku did not identify the individual, he maintained that Nigerians would not be deceived by what he described as recycled accusations that had resurfaced more than two decades after the events in question.

The former vice president also questioned why no criminal investigation or prosecution was initiated during Obasanjo’s administration if there had been credible evidence that he bribed the former Speaker.

According to him, the federal government at the time controlled all relevant security and anti-corruption agencies and had sufficient authority to investigate or prosecute anyone found guilty of such an offence.

He argued that the absence of any legal action undermines the credibility of the latest allegations.

Atiku further criticised Obasanjo for making allegations involving the late Na’Abba, saying it was inappropriate to rely on the name of someone who is no longer alive to confirm or deny the claims.

He described the development as contrary to African values, arguing that the dead should not be drawn into political controversies because they cannot defend themselves.

The former vice president also revisited the political disagreements that strained his relationship with Obasanjo while they were in office.

He insisted that their fallout was rooted in his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda, which sought constitutional changes that would have allowed Obasanjo to remain in office beyond the two-term constitutional limit.

Atiku said he resisted the proposal through lawful and democratic means because he believed protecting Nigeria’s constitutional democracy was more important than personal political interests.

According to him, the latest allegations appear to reflect lingering resentment over his opposition to the third-term bid rather than a genuine effort to establish historical facts.

The ADC presidential candidate also stated that Obasanjo is constitutionally free to support any candidate of his choice ahead of the 2027 election, but urged him to do so openly instead of reviving allegations that cannot be independently verified because the principal witness, Na’Abba, is deceased.

He added that he would not allow himself to be distracted by prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while millions of Nigerians are grappling with pressing national challenges.

According to Atiku, the country’s priority should be addressing rising inflation, economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, poverty and governance issues rather than reopening old political disputes.

The renewed war of words comes as political parties continue consultations, coalition talks and strategic realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with several leading politicians expected to declare their presidential ambitions in the coming months.

Political observers believe exchanges between prominent figures such as Atiku and Obasanjo are likely to shape public discourse as preparations for the next election gather pace.

2027 election: Atiku accuses Obasanjo of reviving false allegations to favour preferred candidate

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