Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju has challenged the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if they want to convince Nigerians that they are not working towards President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
Adeyanju made the call in a post on his X account, reiterating his allegation that Obi and Kwankwaso were working in the interest of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
“If Obi and Kwankwaso step down from the race, I will believe they are no longer working for President Tinubu like they did in 2023,” he wrote.
The lawyer had previously accused the two politicians of advancing Tinubu’s re-election prospects, although he did not provide evidence in the post to substantiate the allegation.
Adeyanju also urged Nigerians not to vote for Obi and Kwankwaso, arguing that supporting their ticket would ultimately benefit the incumbent president.
His comments come amid growing political debates over opposition alliances and strategies ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Kwankwaso, however, has maintained that Obi poses a significant challenge to Tinubu, citing the former Anambra State governor’s popularity in southern Nigeria and efforts to attract support in the North.
The former Kano State governor reportedly said Obi’s political appeal was a source of concern for Tinubu.
In a related development, Kwankwaso disclosed that he had asked Fulani groups to persuade former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to withdraw from the race.
The developments highlight the ongoing political manoeuvring among opposition figures as parties and political leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 election.
Obi, Kwankwaso and Tinubu had not publicly responded to Adeyanju’s latest comments at the time of this report.
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