2027: NNPP Chairman says Atiku should step down for Kwankwaso.

March 28, 2025

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2027: NNPP Chairman says Atiku should step down for Kwankwaso.

The chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ondo State, Peter Olagookun has emphasized that the success of the opposition’s planned coalition hinges on the unity of its key players.
He believes a united front is the only way the coalition can drastically challenge the ruling party in the 2027 elections.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Akure, Olagookun emphasized that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should consider stepping aside to allow Rabiu Kwankwaso to emerge as the opposition’s candidate for the 2027 presidential race.

Kwankwaso, Abubakar, and Peter Obi were the presidential candidates for the NNPP, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, respectively.

All three candidates were beaten by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, since the election, there have been rumours about a possible partnership between the three opposition leaders to challenge Tinubu in 2027, though Kwankwaso has refuted these allegations.

On March 20, Atiku verified that he and other opposition figures would form a coalition to take power from the ruling party in 2027.

Olagookun encouraged opposition leaders to set aside personal aspirations and support Kwankwaso as the consensus candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

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“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and others advocating for an opposition coalition should persuade Atiku to step aside from the 2027 presidential race,” Olagookun said.

“He should support his colleague, Kwankwaso, and together they should select a strong candidate from the South as his running mate. I believe that with this arrangement, the ruling party will struggle to withstand the opposition.”

Additionally, Olagookun cautioned that without this level of unity, the coalition would fail and disintegrate before the 2027 election.

“If Atiku steps aside, history will recognize his selflessness and national interest,” he added. “Kwankwaso is a credible candidate who can lead the opposition to victory in 2027.”