Former governors Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso are intensifying moves to secure a joint presidential ticket on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sources within the party said the duo are rallying northern leaders around a proposed one-term power rotation deal to strengthen their chances.
The strategy, according to insiders, is aimed at consolidating northern support for a southern presidency in 2027. They said Obi is being projected to serve a single term if the arrangement succeeds.
The consultations are also seen as part of efforts to shift support away from Atiku Abubakar ahead of the party’s primaries.
It was gathered that Kwankwaso’s camp has intensified engagements with traditional rulers and political stakeholders in the north in recent weeks.
The stakeholders were reportedly urged to support a southern presidency to complete eight years.
An insider said the move is being framed as a fairness argument following the north’s previous tenure.
“What we’re canvassing is fairness; the South should be allowed to complete its eight years. The North completed its eight years before Tinubu took over power.
“While we have seen that Tinubu’s administration is a disaster, that should not rob the entire South of its deserved eight years.
“What we need is to elect another southerner as the next president in 2027, and that is why we are canvassing for Obi, who, luckily, has promised a one term,” a source told a national newspaper.
The source said efforts are ongoing to secure commitments from northern leaders to support the proposed arrangement.
“We have been convincing some northern leaders to accept Obi’s one-term proposal and support him. RMK (Kwankwaso) is working on this, and some of our leaders in the North have genuinely thrown their weight behind him,” the source added.
Another insider said a committee set up by Obi and Kwankwaso is working to formalise the one-term agreement.
“From our end, the committee set up by Obi and Kwankwaso on their joint ticket is making plans to formalise Obi’s one-term promise and make it public,” the source said.
He said Kwankwaso is leading mobilisation efforts in the north to strengthen the alliance. Supporters of the two politicians had earlier inaugurated the Obi–Kwankwaso Movement on April 20 to drive the joint ticket ahead of the primaries.
A former lawmaker and supporter of Atiku acknowledged the mobilisation efforts by the two camps.
“We know their every move, but no offence is taken. It is a normal political gimmick and we are all marketing our individual aspirants,” the source said.
He said Kwankwaso is leading engagements with northern leaders and positioning himself for future political opportunities.
“He wants to be president in 2031 after Obi’s one-term, if he fulfils it,” he said.
The source added that all aspirants may eventually support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate.
“The most important thing is to sack Tinubu, and we are going to achieve that,” he said.
An ADC chieftain said southern aspirants are exploring alliances with northern leaders to challenge Atiku.
“Peter Obi is said to be working in that direction, while Rotimi Amaechi is also consulting widely to secure the backing of influential northern politicians within the ADC, hoping to split Atiku’s delegate votes in their favour,” the source said.
