High-level consultations are underway between the Kwankwasiya and Obidient movements regarding a potential joint ticket for the 2027 presidential election, but time is running out, with less than 28 days remaining for parties to present candidates.
Habibu Muhammad, spokesperson for the Kwankwasiya movement, confirmed the discussions during an interview on Arise News on May 3, 2026. He revealed that while a final official position is expected by Monday, the talks are part of a broader strategy to consolidate opposition forces ahead of a fast-approaching electoral deadline.
“Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket Wherever They Find Themselves”
When asked directly by the Arise News anchor about public speculation regarding a potential “Obi-Kwankwaso ticket,” Muhammad did not dismiss the possibility. He acknowledged that both movements have long agreed to work together for the development of Nigeria’s democratic space.
“I believe all Nigerians are aware of the fact that the Kwankwasiya movement as well as the Obedient movement have for a long period of time decided to actually work together,” Muhammad stated. He added that consultations have gone “beyond even His Excellency Peter Obi” to include other stakeholders, all aimed at creating a formidable opposition front.
The anchor noted that it is already in the public space that a “Kwankwaso and Obi ticket” is being discussed, asking if the two camps have been in dialogue.
A Race Against Time: 28 Days and Counting
The urgency behind the discussions, according to Muhammad, is driven by strict constitutional timelines. He warned that the electoral cycle leaves little room for error or prolonged litigation.
“We have less than 7 days to make sure that whoever wants to partake in any election has a platform to do so,” Muhammad explained. “We also have less than 28 days for all the political parties to actually present a candidate for election in all offices.”
He stated that these time constraints, combined with ongoing legal battles within the ADC, forced the stakeholders to seek a platform devoid of uncertainty. The NDC was identified as one of the few parties currently free of major legal challenges that could derail candidacies before the election.
Legal “Traps” and the Need for a Smooth Transition
Muhammad alleged that the present administration has made it a duty to ensure no opposition party survives, describing legal hurdles as deliberate traps. He pointed to the Supreme Court’s recent handling of the ADC’s case—where only one of several grounds was addressed—as a mechanism designed to bog down opposition figures in litigation.
“Therefore, those are the issues that we have been actually looking into… to make sure there’s a smooth transition and also a chance for Nigerians to have a viable opposition devoid of any litigation,” he said.
He confirmed that Peter Obi has been consulting his own supporters while also engaging collectively with the NDC, ensuring that whatever decision is reached by Monday will be smooth and unified.
The anchor warned of the possibility of further “legal spanners” being thrown into the NDC’s direction, but Muhammad remained resolute, stating that the movement must work with what is currently visible and functional, not hypothetical traps.
