ADC, Kwankwaso Rift Threatens Single Opposition Candidate Plan

The rift between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over allegations that the former Kano State governor is working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) widened yesterday.

The dispute resurfaced barely two days after the group leading the opposition’s quest for a single presidential candidate expressed optimism about its search ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The convener of the group, G100, Mallam Salihu Lukman, had said opposition parties could agree on a single presidential candidate a few days, weeks or months before the 2027 general election.

Lukman made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Core programme.

However, the clash between the ADC and Kwankwaso could undermine the proposal.

Last week, Kwankwaso called on the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to step down for Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate. It was the second time he had made the call.

In response, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) accused Kwankwaso of working for the APC and President Bola Tinubu.

Reacting yesterday, Kwankwaso expressed concern over what he described as attacks by the ADC campaign team on him, Obi and the NDC, saying they were unnecessary and unhelpful.

In a statement posted on X, Kwankwaso said that rather than focus on presenting its candidate’s competence, credibility and capacity, the ADC-PCC appeared intent on creating mischief against the NDC and its presidential ticket.

“This includes attempts to portray us as working for the ruling party or to suggest that we may withdraw from the race in favour of the ADC candidate at the last minute.

“The ADC-PCC would be better served directing its energy towards rebutting the serious allegations levelled against their candidate by the Vice President, His Excellency Kashim Shettima, instead of targeting His Excellency Peter Obi and me,” he said.

Kwankwaso said he and Obi were aware that the ADC-PCC might attempt to mislead their supporters on the eve of the election by claiming that the NDC intended to withdraw in favour of the ADC.

“Let me state clearly and unequivocally: we will not withdraw our candidature for the ADC or any other party. We remain confident in our capacity, competence and readiness to lead Nigeria.

“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. These claims are unfounded and should be treated as such.

“The APC-led government has failed Nigerians. The ADC offers no better alternative. We believe the OK ticket presents a credible and viable option, backed by proven capacity, a strong track record, credibility and broad support across both Northern and Southern Nigeria.

“It is a healing ticket committed to uniting our country and tackling critical challenges in security, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, the economy and other key sectors.

“We believe the NDC remains the most formidable and viable opposition party in the country. I therefore urge all our supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to continue working towards the victory of our great party,” he said.

However, the ADC-PCC dismissed Kwankwaso’s response as diversionary, insisting that it had further raised questions about his political alignment with the APC and Tinubu.

The council had earlier urged Kwankwaso, the NDC vice-presidential candidate, to stop attacking Atiku and instead focus on holding the ruling APC accountable for its failures.

It maintained that Kwankwaso should be challenging the Tinubu administration over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and declining living standards rather than repeatedly targeting Atiku and the ADC.

In a statement yesterday, the ADC-PCC director of media and publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Kwankwaso’s response had failed to address the substance of the council’s concerns.

According to the council, Kwankwaso mentioned the APC in his defence but devoted much of his response to attacking the ADC, raising questions about his priorities as an opposition leader.

“Why is Senator Kwankwaso making our candidate the issue instead of confronting the ruling APC, whose policies have made life increasingly difficult for millions of Nigerians?” the council asked.

It argued that Nigerians were more concerned about hunger, insecurity, high fuel prices, the depreciation of the naira and the economic hardship under the APC-led government than political exchanges among opposition figures.

The council insisted that these national challenges should be the priority of any politician genuinely committed to providing an alternative to the Tinubu administration.

It also challenged Kwankwaso to explain why his political attacks appeared more frequently directed at Atiku and the ADC than at the ruling party responsible for the country’s current challenges.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the ADC cannot and will not be distracted by Senator Kwankwaso,” the council declared.

Describing the ADC as a strong and increasingly accepted political platform, the ADC-PCC said it remained focused on mobilising Nigerians around its commitment to rescuing the country from what it described as the failures of APC governance.

The council further challenged Kwankwaso to stop using attacks on the ADC to curry political favour with the ruling party and instead demonstrate the courage to openly align himself with the APC if he shared its political agenda.

The ADC-PCC reaffirmed its determination to remain united, focused and committed to offering Nigerians a credible alternative in the 2027 general election.