Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been urged to step down for Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The call was made by Peter Olagookun, the chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ondo State.
He emphasized that the success of the opposition’s planned coalition hinges on the unity of its key players.
He believes that only through a united front can the coalition effectively challenge the ruling party in the 2027 elections.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Akure, Olagookun stated that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar should consider stepping aside to allow Rabiu Kwankwaso to emerge as the opposition’s candidate for the 2027 presidential race.
Kwankwaso, Abubakar, and Peter Obi were the presidential candidates for the NNPP, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, respectively.
All three candidates were defeated by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Since the election, there have been speculations about a potential alliance between the three opposition leaders to challenge Tinubu in 2027, though Kwankwaso has denied these claims.
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On March 20, Atiku confirmed that he and other opposition figures would form a coalition to take power from the ruling party in 2027.
Olagookun urged opposition leaders to set aside personal aspirations and support Kwankwaso as the consensus candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and others advocating for an opposition coalition should persuade Atiku to step aside from the 2027 presidential race,” Olagookun said.
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“He should support his colleague, Kwankwaso, and together they should select a strong candidate from the South as his running mate. I believe that with this arrangement, the ruling party will struggle to withstand the opposition.
However, Olagookun warned that without this level of unity, the coalition would fail and disintegrate before the 2027 election.
“If Atiku steps aside, history will recognize his selflessness and national interest,” he added. “Kwankwaso is a credible candidate who can lead the opposition to victory in 2027.”
Olagookun also praised Atiku for his efforts to unite opposition leaders and for his contributions to national development.
