Kwankwaso opposition split claims dismissed as former Kano governor says cooperation with Atiku remains possible before 2027

Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has dismissed claims that his departure from the African Democratic Congress created a damaging division within the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.

Also read: BREAKING: Obi, Kwankwaso join NDC in major political shift

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Rabiu Kwankwaso said he could still work with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar before the next presidential election.

Kwankwaso’s comments came amid growing political realignments following his move, alongside former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

The development had triggered speculation that the opposition was becoming fragmented into rival blocs ahead of the 2027 contest.

“Now, we may still work together before the election. I personally, and I think even Obi himself, decided to leave ADC not because we are fighting with Atiku or anybody there,” Kwankwaso said.

According to him, the decision to leave the ADC was based on unresolved internal issues within the party rather than personal disagreements with Atiku Abubakar or other political figures.

Rabiu Kwankwaso stated that the ADC was facing three major unresolved problems which, in his view, could affect the party’s ability to field candidates in future elections.

“Whether they will be able to field candidates in that party or not is just a matter of time. It’s not like we had a primary election,” he added.

The remarks followed recent comments by Atiku Abubakar during a separate Arise Television interview in which the former vice president claimed that Kwankwaso’s political influence was largely restricted to Kano State.

Atiku also argued that Governor Abba Yusuf had further divided Kwankwaso’s support base in Kano.

The former vice president described himself as the most popular northern politician, asserting that none of his contemporaries, including Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal and Nasir El-Rufai, possessed a voter base as extensive as his across northern Nigeria.

Rabiu Kwankwaso, however, declined to respond aggressively to the remarks and insisted there was no personal hostility between him and Atiku Abubakar.

“Politics is just like a game. I’m not fighting anybody and I’m not expecting anybody to fight me. I have no issue with that. I think we are past that level now,” he said.

The former Kano governor also challenged critics predicting a divided opposition vote in Kano State to wait until the election before drawing conclusions.

“Let’s wait for the election and see whether votes are split in Kano or not,” he stated.

Rabiu Kwankwaso further recalled his political collaboration with Atiku Abubakar during the 2019 presidential election, noting that he served as the former vice president’s northern coordinator during the campaign.

“There was an election in 2019 in Port Harcourt. He won the election. I was his coordinator for the north. We worked for him,” he said.