The Kwankwasiyya movement has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of lacking clarity on what it intends to offer Nigerians, alleging that the party is relying on Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to strengthen former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential ambition.

The movement’s spokesperson, Dr Habibu Sale Mohammed, made the allegation on Daily Trust TV’s Day Break programme on Monday while reacting to comments by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, who reportedly ruled out an alliance with the ADC over the weekend.

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Mohammed said political parties should focus on presenting their policies, ideas and capabilities to Nigerians instead of blaming their electoral prospects on politicians who choose not to join them.

“ The politics should be played, often presenting yourself, your ideas, your capacities and capabilities for Nigerians to make the right choice. It is not about causing Nigerians to one angle,” he said.

He alleged that the ADC had calculated that securing the support of Obi and Kwankwaso would strengthen Atiku’s chances in the 2027 presidential election, regardless of whether Nigerians considered him the most suitable candidate.

“I believe that ADC have already made its own calculation that with Kwankwaso and Obi on their side, Atiku will be there, whether he deserved to be there or not, whether he is a better alternative or not, whether he is someone others truly wanted to be there or not,” Mohammed said.

He added that, in his view, the party had failed to communicate a clear political alternative to Nigerians, arguing that protecting democracy should be the priority.

Mohammed also criticised what he described as the ADC’s reliance on Obi and Kwankwaso, claiming that the party was struggling to respond to their decision not to join it.

He accused the ADC of attempting to portray Kwankwaso as someone working in support of President Bola Tinubu.

“They want to continue to use this slogan until they believe every Nigerian believe that Kwankwaso is working for Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the rest of them,” he said.

The spokesperson further rejected suggestions that the ADC’s potential electoral failure could be blamed on Obi and Kwankwaso declining to join the party.

“You understand, they resort to trying to tell the whole world that if we fail, it is because Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Peter Obi refused to join us and that is not how politics should be played,” he said.

Mohammed defended Kwankwaso’s right to speak publicly about his political partnership with Obi, insisting that their relationship was based on a shared understanding rather than a temporary arrangement.

According to him, the two politicians had agreed to work together because they believed they were pursuing common objectives.

He maintained that Kwankwaso had the authority to discuss the partnership and would not make statements about it without a basis.

Mohammed also claimed that Obi and Kwankwaso had previously been associated with the ADC but left because, in his view, the party had failed to provide a level playing field for political actors.

He argued that their decision reflected a desire to give Nigerians a wider choice of candidates and what he described as a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.

The allegations add to the political debate over possible alliances and party alignments ahead of the next presidential election.