2027: Obidients, Kwankwasiyya pledge ₦60m fundraising drive

Back Obi-Kwankwaso consensus ticket under NDC

Supporters of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have begun early negotiations aimed at forging what could become one of the most significant opposition alliances ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, as both camps push for a consensus ticket under the Nigeria Democratic Congress platform.

The duo, who are leaders of political movements (Obidients and Kwankwasiyya) were presidential candidates in the 2023 elections on the platforms of Labour Party(LP) and New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), respectively.

The move, unveiled at the NDC Aspirants’ Summit in Abuja, signals a growing realisation among opposition figures and grassroots movements that fragmented political ambitions may once again weaken attempts to unseat the ruling party in the next general election.

For many observers, the development marks a strategic shift from the bitterly divided opposition politics that characterised the 2023 elections, where multiple strong candidates split votes across regions and ideological blocs.
This time, supporters within the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements appear determined to test the possibility of a united front long before the campaign season formally begins.

National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, announced that supporters were already mobilising funds to purchase a joint presidential nomination form for Obi and Kwankwaso. According to him, the target is to raise ₦60 million as a symbolic and practical demonstration of grassroots commitment to a coalition project many supporters believe could reshape the country’s political landscape.

Tanko described the proposed alliance as a response to increasing calls from Nigerians seeking a stronger opposition platform capable of confronting the country’s economic and governance challenges.

Although neither Obi nor Kwankwaso has formally declared an intention to run in 2027, the growing collaboration between their support bases is already generating conversations within political circles about possible power-sharing arrangements, regional calculations and the challenge of managing competing ambitions.

Speaking on behalf of Obi at the summit, former Inter-Party Advisory Council Chairman, Chief Peter Ameh, urged politicians seeking office under the NDC to focus on credibility and national interest rather than personal gain.

He said Nigerians were increasingly disillusioned with politics driven by greed, defections and transactional alliances, warning that any coalition without clear principles would struggle to inspire public confidence.
Ameh also criticised the growing trend of politicians defecting after elections, arguing that such actions weaken democratic accountability and betray voters who supported candidates based on party ideology and campaign promises.

On the other side of the emerging alliance, Coordinator of the Kwankwaso National Network, Moshood Shittu, said the country’s crisis was rooted more in leadership failure than lack of resources. He argued that ordinary Nigerians had shown resilience despite economic hardship and insecurity, adding that the political class must begin to prioritise honesty and competence.

Beyond the symbolism of Obi and Kwankwaso supporters sharing the same political stage, the summit also exposed growing concerns within the NDC itself over how candidates would eventually emerge for the 2027 elections.
National Secretary of the party, Ikenna Enekweizu, attempted to calm fears of internal manipulation by assuring aspirants that the party would conduct transparent primaries.

He denied allegations that a secret list of preferred candidates already existed within the party leadership.
According to him, all aspirants who purchase nomination forms would be allowed to participate fairly either through consensus arrangements or democratic primaries.

In what appeared to be an effort to broaden participation, Enekweizu announced discounts on nomination fees for women, youths and persons living with disabilities. He said women and aspirants between 18 and 35 years would pay only half of the nomination fee, while persons with disabilities would pay 25 per cent.

Meanwhile, veteran politician Buba Galadima warned that poorly managed primaries could destroy opposition unity before the election season even begins.

Recalling the violent direct primaries conducted in Kano in 2011, Galadima said internal contests often leave behind bitterness, court cases and factional crises that weaken parties before the main election. He argued that consensus arrangements, if properly negotiated, could help opposition forces avoid unnecessary division.

As discussions around a possible Obi-Kwankwaso alliance continue to gather momentum, political analysts say the coming months may determine whether the talks evolve into a genuine coalition or become another failed opposition experiment in Nigeria’s long history of electoral alliances.(Guardian)