The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress says he urged a visiting group of Fulani people to persuade former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to abandon his presidential ambition.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has disclosed that he asked a group of Fulani people from different parts of Nigeria to persuade former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race.
Kwankwaso made the disclosure on Thursday while appearing on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, where he discussed the political calculations and opposition alignments emerging ahead of the next general election.
According to the former Kano State governor, the group had visited his residence in Abuja for a courtesy call, which he saw as an opportunity to encourage them to speak with Atiku about stepping aside from the presidential contest.
“I met with a group of Fulani people from across the country who came for a courtesy visit to my house, and I felt it was an opportunity for me to talk to them,” Kwankwaso said.
He explained that he urged the visitors to make time before returning to their respective communities to meet Atiku and persuade him to reconsider his presidential ambition.
Kwankwaso also emphasised his longstanding relationship with the former vice-president, noting that they had worked closely together at different points in their political careers.
His appeal comes as opposition politicians continue to position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with competing ambitions raising questions about the possibility of a united opposition front.
Atiku is seeking the presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Kwankwaso is the running mate to NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi.
The competing political platforms highlight the challenge facing opposition parties as they seek to build electoral alliances capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Kwankwaso’s remarks also reflect an ongoing debate over whether opposition figures should consolidate behind a single presidential candidate or pursue separate ambitions in the forthcoming election.
As of the time of the reported remarks, Atiku had not withdrawn from the presidential race in response to Kwankwaso’s appeal.