Kwankwaso ADC defection talks have hit a major roadblock as uncertainty grows over who will clinch the party’s 2027 presidential ticket. Former Kano State governor and NNPP national leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is said to be slowing down plans to join the African Democratic Congress due to doubts that Peter Obi will emerge as the party’s flagbearer.
Sources within the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the ADC say Kwankwaso’s move is closely tied to a proposed political alliance with Obi ahead of the 2027 elections. The plan reportedly involves a joint presidential arrangement under the ADC platform, with Obi as the main contender.
Insiders say the talks were initiated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and have involved high-level consultations across political blocs. A three-man ADC committee set up to engage potential defectors has already met with Kwankwaso’s own team in Abuja, but negotiations remain inconclusive.
An ADC official familiar with the discussions said the meetings have not produced a final agreement due to unresolved concerns. He said both sides are still engaging and may reach a firm decision within one or two weeks, adding that the party remains eager to welcome Kwankwaso.
However, sources close to Kwankwaso say caution is driving the delay. Northern political leaders and Obasanjo are said to have advised him not to defect without firm assurances that Obi will secure the ADC presidential ticket. They reportedly fear Obi could be drawn into a primary contest only to lose out and be pressured into accepting a vice-presidential slot.
According to one insider, Kwankwaso is seen as Obi’s strongest bargaining asset within the ADC. The source claimed there are concerns that forces backing Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition are gaining influence within the party, raising fears of internal power struggles.
The source added that wider consultations are still ongoing and that no final decision will be taken until all strategic calculations are concluded. Both Obi’s and Kwankwaso’s camps are said to be engaging national leaders to shore up support for a southern presidency in 2027.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi declined to comment, saying he was not involved in talks with Kwankwaso. The NNPP spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, also said he had no details to share.
For now, Kwankwaso’s political future remains in limbo, with negotiations continuing behind closed doors.
