Former Kano State Governor and NDC vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has pushed back firmly against claims that he and the Nigeria Democratic Congress are either working for the ruling APC or planning to abandon their presidential ticket in favour of the ADC candidate ahead of the 2027 election.
In a detailed statement posted on X, Kwankwaso expressed deep concern over what he described as the unnecessary and unhelpful attacks coming from the ADC Presidential Campaign Council. These attacks, he said, have been directed at him, NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, and the party itself. Rather than focusing on presenting the competence, credibility, and track record of their own candidate to Nigerians, the ADC-PCC, according to Kwankwaso, appears more interested in creating mischief.
He specifically rejected two recurring allegations: that the NDC “OK ticket” (Obi-Kwankwaso) is secretly working for the APC, and that the ticket may withdraw from the race at the last minute to support the ADC candidate. Kwankwaso stated clearly and unequivocally that neither is true. The OK ticket, he insisted, is neither acting on behalf of the APC nor any of its candidates, and there is no possibility or reason for them to step aside for the ADC or anyone else.
Kwankwaso advised the ADC campaign team to redirect its energy toward addressing the serious allegations levelled against their candidate by Vice President Kashim Shettima, instead of targeting him and Peter Obi. He also warned that the ADC-PCC might attempt to mislead NDC supporters close to the election by claiming an imminent withdrawal, and he urged supporters to ignore such claims.
On the broader political landscape, Kwankwaso argued that the APC-led government has failed Nigerians and that the ADC does not offer a better alternative. He positioned the OK ticket as a credible, healing option with proven capacity, a strong track record, and broad support across both Northern and Southern Nigeria. The ticket, he said, is committed to tackling critical challenges in security, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and the economy.
He further described the NDC as the most formidable and viable opposition party currently in the country and called on supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to keep working toward its victory. He ended the statement with a short, characteristic note: “Nigeria will be OK.”
Kwankwaso’s response comes amid ongoing friction between the two major opposition platforms as the 2027 contest begins to take shape, with the NDC and ADC both seeking to challenge the ruling APC. His statement seeks to draw a clear line: the OK ticket intends to stay in the race and campaign on its own terms.
About the Author
