KWANKWASO CHALLENGES ATIKU TO ABANDON 2027 PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION

Former Kano State Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, arguing that the opposition needs a different approach to produce a strong candidate for the next election.

Kwankwaso made the call while speaking on the political developments ahead of the 2027 general elections. He questioned the continued focus on some of the country's older political figures and suggested that the opposition should consider giving younger politicians a stronger opportunity to lead the country.

The NNPP chieftain has remained involved in discussions surrounding possible opposition cooperation ahead of the 2027 election, with several opposition politicians exploring ways to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress. However, disagreements over who should lead any proposed coalition have continued to create tension among the various political groups.

Kwankwaso's position adds to the growing debate over the presidential ambitions of Atiku, who has contested the presidency several times and remains one of the major opposition figures in Nigerian politics. Atiku has continued to pursue his political plans despite calls from some quarters for a new generation of leaders to take over the opposition movement.

The disagreement also highlights the difficulty opposition parties and politicians may face in reaching a common position ahead of 2027. With several prominent figures showing interest in the presidency, negotiations over candidacy, party platforms and power-sharing arrangements are expected to remain a major issue as political activities intensify ahead of the election.