A senior member of the National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress, Fabiyi Oladimeji, has dismissed the possibility of a Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket delivering the electoral strength needed to defeat the ruling party in 2027.
Oladimeji, who is the Deputy National Financial Secretary of the David Mark-led NWC, said only a combination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi would provide the numbers required for a viable opposition coalition.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, he argued that voting patterns from the 2023 general elections suggest that an Obi–Kwankwaso alliance would fall short of the electoral threshold needed to challenge the All Progressives Congress.
“Even Kwankwaso and Obi together cannot give us the numbers needed, I am sorry to say. The best combination is Atiku and Obi,” he said.
He further noted that the combined votes of major opposition figures in the last election still lagged behind the APC’s tally, insisting that only a broader coalition could change the outcome in 2027.
According to him, “The total votes of the key contenders were about 14 to 15 million, while the President scored about eight million. If these forces are united, Nigerians will see a different outcome.”
Oladimeji added that unity among opposition leaders was critical to any attempt to dislodge the incumbent government, stressing that personal ambition must give way to collective interest.
He said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had already indicated willingness to support any consensus candidate that emerges from a coalition process, while also referencing similar commitments from other political actors.
He urged Peter Obi to align with ongoing coalition discussions, describing the 2027 election as an opportunity to “rescue the country” rather than pursue individual political ambitions.
