The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted sharply to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s call on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to abandon his 2027 presidential ambition and support the opposition ticket led by Peter Obi.
APC spokesperson Felix Morka criticised the proposal, questioning why opposition politicians were already bargaining over the presidency ahead of the 2027 election.
Kwankwaso, who is expected to play a key role in the opposition’s planned alliance with Obi, had appealed to Atiku to step aside, citing his age and health while assuring him that he would be “taken care of” if the opposition wins the election.
But Morka described the development as evidence of what he called hypocrisy within the opposition camp.
In a post on X, the APC spokesperson accused opposition figures of engaging in “horse trading” over an office that Nigerians are yet to decide who will occupy.
Morka insisted that the presidency would ultimately be determined by the electorate, stressing that no political group could claim ownership of the office before the 2027 vote.
Atiku, who will turn 81 next year, has remained interested in contesting the presidency despite previous attempts in 2007, 2019 and 2023. He has indicated that the 2027 election could be his final bid for the nation’s highest political office.
Kwankwaso’s latest appeal has further highlighted the intense negotiations within the opposition as political parties and influential figures work to form a united front ahead of the 2027 general election.
