NNPP Chairman: Atiku Should Step Aside for Kwankwaso in 2027
Peter Olagookun, chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ondo State, has called on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to step aside and support Rabiu Kwankwaso as the opposition’s consensus candidate in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Olagookun said that the success of any coalition formed by opposition leaders depends on their ability to unite behind a single candidate.
Kwankwaso, Atiku, and Peter Obi were the presidential candidates of the NNPP, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP), respectively, in the 2023 general election. They were all defeated by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Since the election, there have been speculations about a possible alliance between the three opposition leaders to challenge Tinubu in 2027, although Kwankwaso has denied such claims.
On March 20, Atiku hinted at the possibility of forming a coalition with other opposition figures to unseat the ruling party in the next election.
Olagookun, however, believes that the opposition must rally behind Kwankwaso as the most viable candidate for 2027.
“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and other opposition figures advocating for a coalition should persuade Atiku to step aside,” Olagookun said.
“He should support his brother, Kwankwaso, and together they should pick a strong running mate from the South. With this strategy, the ruling party will struggle to retain power.
“But if the opposition fails to unite, the coalition will collapse like a house of cards before the 2027 general election.”
Olagookun added that if Atiku sacrifices his ambition for the greater good, history will remember him as a statesman who put national interest above personal aspirations.
He described Kwankwaso as a “credible and formidable” candidate who can lead the opposition to victory in 2027.
The NNPP chairman also commended Atiku for his efforts in uniting opposition leaders and contributing to national development.
Meanwhile, in an interview on Tuesday, Atiku said he was still undecided about running in the next election, emphasizing the need for a strong political structure to challenge the ruling party effectively.
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