Kwankwaso: We Will Not Withdraw for Atiku or ADC

Former Kano State Governor and Vice Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has dismissed rumors that he and his presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are working for the ruling party or may step down from the 2027 presidential race for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or any other party.

Kwankwaso, in a Facebook statement on Sunday, accused the ADC Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) of spreading false information to confuse voters.

He confirmed that the NDC ticket, called the “Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) ticket”, is fully in the race and is focused on offering a credible governance option for Nigerians.

Kwankwaso asked the voters to ignore claims that the NDC is secretly working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or plans to withdraw at the last minute.

“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,” Kwankwaso stated.

“The OK ticket is neither working for nor acting on behalf of APC or any of its candidates. We see no possibility or reason to withdraw from the presidential race in favor of the ADC candidate or any other. These claims are unfounded and should be treated as such.”

He also challenged the ADC campaign team to focus on showing their candidate’s vision instead of making up stories against their opponents.

Kwankwaso’s statement came after several political exchanges between the NDC and the ADC campaign council.

The ADC-PCC, through spokesperson Kola Ologbondiyan, recently accused Kwankwaso of secretly aligning with President Bola Tinubu and the APC.

ADC claimed that Kwankwaso’s recent public call for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside and support Peter Obi was a clever move to split the opposition vote and help the ruling party.

ADC also said that Kwankwaso is more interested in his personal ambition for future elections than in having a united opposition.

In reply, Kwankwaso advised the ADC to focus on addressing the criticism from the ruling party.

Vice President Kashim Shettima recently criticized ADC candidate Atiku Abubakar, mocking his many attempts at the presidency and dismissing his economic plans, like production subsidies, as unrealistic.

Shettima said that political ambition needs “intellectual maturity.” He joked that Atiku’s candidacy was “more of Odinga Odinga than Abraham Lincoln,” questioning how Atiku would fund his proposed policies.

Kwankwaso criticized the ruling APC’s performance and dismissed the ADC as unable to address Nigeria’s urgent needs.

“The APC-led government has failed Nigerians. The ADC offers no better alternative,” he said. “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.”

He described the NDC as a “healing ticket” that focuses on security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic revival.

“I have noted with deep concern the ADC campaign team’s conduct. The attacks directed at me, our presidential candidate His Excellency Peter Obi, and our party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), are unnecessary and unhelpful.

Instead of showing the skills, credibility, and capacity of their own candidate, like we have done by sharing our achievements, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council seems focused on creating trouble against our party and ticket. This includes trying to make it look like we are working for the ruling party or suggesting we might withdraw from the race for ADC at the last minute.

The ADC-PCC would do better to use its energy to answer the serious allegations made against their candidate by Vice President Kashim Shettima instead of targeting Peter Obi and me.

We know the ADC-PCC might try to mislead our supporters before the election by claiming we plan to withdraw for them. Let me state clearly and unequivocally: we will not withdraw our candidature for 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 APC or any of its candidates. We see no possibility or reason to withdraw from the presidential race in favor 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, viable option, backed by proven capacity, a strong track record, credibility, and broad support across 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 NDC remains the country’s most formidable and viable opposition party. I therefore urge all our supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to keep working toward our great party’s victory.

Nigeria will be OK., RMK