Kwankwaso in Talks with ADC Ahead of 2027.
By Bala Salihu, Dawakin Kudu
Northern Bureau Chief
January 3, 2026.
Former Kano State Governor and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is said to be weighing a major political realignment as talks intensify over a proposed opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Multiple sources familiar with the development confirmed that Kwankwaso has opened discussions with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over a possible alliance that could bring together some of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party’s 2023 flag bearer, Mr Peter Obi.
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The talks come against the backdrop of shifting political loyalties and growing uncertainty within the NNPP, particularly following the planned defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, and the majority of members of the Kano State House of Assembly to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to sources, Kwankwaso is considering moving into the ADC alongside members of the Kwankwasiyya movement, his long-standing political base known for its grassroots reach across Kano and parts of northern Nigeria. The discussions, it was gathered, are being conducted quietly, as key opposition actors explore the feasibility of a united platform capable of challenging the APC’s dominance in 2027.
“Nothing has been concluded yet, but the conversations are serious,” a source close to the negotiations said. “Kwankwaso understands that the political terrain has changed, and there is a growing belief that only a broad coalition can pose a credible challenge to the APC.”
Strong indications have also emerged that Governor Yusuf, who currently presides over the only NNPP-governed state, is set to formally defect to the APC on Monday. The move, sources said, has been fiercely opposed by Kwankwaso and has triggered deep divisions within the Kwankwasiyya movement, with loyalists split between pragmatism and loyalty to their leader.
A source close to the Kano governor disclosed that Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, and the APC state chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, are expected to attend a brief ceremony marking Yusuf’s defection in Abuja.
Political observers note that the defection, if it goes ahead, would further weaken the NNPP as a standalone force and potentially accelerate Kwankwaso’s decision to align with a broader opposition coalition.
Analysts believe that a successful alliance involving Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso could significantly reshape Nigeria’s opposition politics and alter the political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections.
In the 2023 presidential poll, Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso finished second, third and fourth respectively, jointly amassing millions of votes that analysts say could prove decisive if harmonised under a single platform.
While the APC currently controls 28 states, opposition figures are said to be regrouping, banking on public dissatisfaction over economic hardship, insecurity and governance challenges to reset the balance of power.
The momentum within the ADC appeared to grow further on Wednesday when Mr Peter Obi formally defected to the party alongside his supporters, opposition leaders and a number of National Assembly and State Assembly lawmakers. Obi joined a growing list of prominent politicians who have rallied around the ADC, including Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
An ADC chieftain, Dr Ladan Salihu, said on Friday that Obi’s defection had dramatically altered the opposition landscape and positioned the party as a formidable challenger to the ruling APC. “With the calibre of leaders coming into the ADC, Nigerians are beginning to see a serious alternative,” he said.
Meanwhile, the APC continued to consolidate its strength as Plateau State Governor, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, also formally defected to the party on Friday, further swelling its ranks at the subnational level.
The PDP, in a statement on Friday, said that while its immediate focus remained the resolution of legal issues surrounding its leadership, opposition parties must find common ground if they are to defeat the ruling party in 2027.
The unfolding developments have sparked debate within political circles, with some warning against what they describe as a “coalition of strange bedfellows,” while others point to Kwankwaso’s earlier remarks predicting a “wind of change” in the 2027 elections as evidence that the former governor is positioning himself for a pivotal role in a reconfigured opposition.
As negotiations continue behind closed doors, all eyes are now on Kwankwaso’s next move — a decision that could prove decisive in shaping the contours of Nigeria’s political contest ahead of 2027.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 3RD 2026)
