ADC-PCC Accuses Kwankwaso Of Working For Tinubu

….Says Atiku Can Win Kano

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of advancing President Bola Tinubu’s political interests by calling on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step down for Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The council described Kwankwaso’s call as reckless, self-serving and an attempt to divide the opposition, insisting that Atiku could win Kano State in the 2027 election with or without the support of the former governor.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC-PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated this while reacting to Kwankwaso’s interview on Channels Television.

Ologbondiyan accused Kwankwaso of concentrating on opposition leaders instead of challenging the Tinubu administration, which he claimed Nigerians were eager to vote out because of economic hardship, hunger, poverty and insecurity.

He argued that Kwankwaso’s intervention raised questions about his political intentions, alleging that his actions could weaken opposition unity and benefit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Rather than campaigning against President Tinubu, whose administration Nigerians are eagerly working to vote out, Kwankwaso is fixated on Atiku Abubakar, the ADC candidate, whom millions of Nigerians believe can restore economic stability and make life affordable again,” he said.

The ADC-PCC spokesman suggested that Kwankwaso’s position might be influenced by his political ambition beyond 2027, alleging that the former governor was more concerned about positioning himself for the 2031 presidential election.

Atiku Can Win Kano Without Kwankwaso — ADC-PCC

Ologbondiyan maintained that Kwankwaso’s political influence in Kano should not be regarded as indispensable to any presidential candidate seeking victory in the state.

Citing the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections, he argued that former President Muhammadu Buhari secured victories in Kano without Kwankwaso’s support, adding that Atiku could achieve a similar outcome in 2027.

“What Kwankwaso is doing amounts to advancing President Tinubu’s interests. It is a familiar APC strategy to use willing collaborators within the opposition to create confusion, sow division and weaken the collective efforts to bring about political change,” he alleged.

He added that Nigerians would not be distracted by what he described as political manoeuvres designed to weaken opposition parties and prolong the APC’s hold on power.

The ADC-PCC spokesman also questioned Kwankwaso’s political alignment, citing his movement across different political parties as evidence of what he described as persistent political repositioning.

According to him, Kwankwaso’s political journey from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, back to the PDP, then to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the ADC and now the National Democratic Congress (NDC) deserved scrutiny.

He alleged that Kwankwaso’s latest intervention was driven more by personal political calculations than a genuine commitment to building a united opposition capable of defeating Tinubu in 2027.

ADC-PCC Defends Atiku’s National Appeal
Ologbondiyan described Atiku as a nationally established politician with extensive political networks across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

He argued that the former vice-president’s longstanding relationships across regional, ethnic and religious divides gave him an advantage in building a broad national coalition ahead of the next presidential election.

“Atiku Abubakar is a cosmopolitan, detribalised and nationally recognised political figure who has built relationships across the North, South, East and West over more than three decades,” he said.

In contrast, Ologbondiyan argued that Kwankwaso’s political strength remained largely concentrated in Kano State, questioning his ability to translate that influence into nationwide electoral success.

He also cited Kwankwaso’s fourth-place finish in the 2023 presidential election as evidence, in his assessment, that the former governor’s political influence had not translated into sufficient national support to win the presidency.

“Kwankwaso must come to terms with the realities of the national political landscape. His influence should not be confused with the capacity to win a presidential election.

“If his political relevance were as extensive as he suggests, why did he finish fourth in the last presidential election?” he queried.

Council Urges Opposition Leaders To Unite Behind Atiku

The ADC-PCC expressed concern over the implications of Kwankwaso’s position for Peter Obi and the leadership of the NDC, arguing that opposition leaders should prioritise defeating the ruling party rather than criticising one another.

It urged Nigerians and the media to disregard what it described as Kwankwaso’s attention-seeking intervention and focus on building support for Atiku and the ADC.

The council maintained that Atiku remained its preferred candidate to challenge Tinubu and address the economic and security challenges facing the country.

“Our campaign, however, invites Kwankwaso and his allies to reconsider their position and support the formidable candidacy of Atiku Abubakar.

“Atiku remains our preferred pathway to defeating President Tinubu and ending the hunger, poverty and insecurity that the APC administration has foisted on our nation,” Ologbondiyan said.

He called on opposition leaders to put aside personal ambitions and work towards a common political objective ahead of the 2027 general election.

“The task before opposition leaders is not to undermine one another for personal political advantage but to unite around the urgent national mission of rescuing Nigeria,” he added.