The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confidently stated that it is not concerned or intimidated by the proposed political alliance between the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, ahead of the 2027 presidential election. According to the APC, this supposed partnership is unlikely to make any significant impact and is predicted to fail just as a similar attempt did prior to the 2023 elections.
In an interview with The Punch on Monday, Bala Ibrahim, the APC’s National Publicity Director, reiterated his party’s view that the Kwankwaso-Obi alliance is not something to worry about. He stressed that any partnership between these two opposition leaders would crumble again due to the inherent distrust between them. According to him, both Obi and Kwankwaso are deeply ambitious and unwilling to concede leadership to the other, making their efforts to work together doomed from the start.
He elaborated that trust was the fundamental issue that collapsed their alliance efforts before the 2023 elections, and there was no indication that this issue had been resolved. In his opinion, the same lack of trust would undermine any future collaboration between the two. As long as neither party is ready to compromise their individual aspirations, it would be impossible for the alliance to succeed. For this reason, the APC sees no reason to lose sleep over this development.
In a recent post on social media, Kwankwaso had indicated that he was open to the idea of being Obi’s running mate in 2027, provided certain undisclosed conditions were met. This statement hinted at a possible renewal of their earlier attempts to join forces. However, the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Umar Farouk, welcomed the possibility of such a merger, noting that it could only work if Kwankwaso showed humility and was willing to collaborate under Obi’s leadership.
While there may be some optimism from Labour Party members about the prospects of a new alliance with Kwankwaso, the APC remains highly skeptical. Ibrahim argued that the factors that derailed their previous effort are still present, especially the issue of conflicting ambitions. He compared the situation to a scientific experiment, explaining that if the same variables are tested repeatedly under the same conditions, the outcome would inevitably be the same.
He went on to describe Obi and Kwankwaso as political “strange bedfellows” who, despite their occasional public displays of cooperation, cannot truly function as a team. According to Ibrahim, both leaders have the singular goal of becoming the president, and neither is willing to step aside for the other. This clash of egos, coupled with a superiority complex on both sides, makes the success of their alliance highly unlikely.
Ibrahim added that, as long as these personal and political differences persist, the APC will not have any reason to worry. He called the renewed alliance talks mere rhetoric, driven by the fact that Obi and Kwankwaso are witnessing the progress the APC has made since coming into power. He suggested that the opposition leaders were simply making noise to stay relevant and survive politically, but their efforts would amount to nothing. According to Ibrahim, the APC’s victory in the 2027 election is practically guaranteed, and any opposition efforts to challenge the ruling party are destined to fail.
On the other hand, the National Deputy Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abdullahi Ibrahim, welcomed the idea of an Obi-Kwankwaso alliance. From the PDP’s perspective, such an alliance could help strengthen the opposition’s chances of unseating the APC in 2027. He explained that the PDP had initiated discussions with key opposition figures as part of a strategy to consolidate their efforts and present a united front against the ruling party.
Ibrahim acknowledged that any alliance involving the Labour Party, the NNPP, and the PDP would be beneficial for the country. He said the opposition parties need to come together to offer an alternative to the current government, which many Nigerians feel has been insensitive to their struggles. He noted that Nigerians are growing weary of the APC and would welcome any effort that promises to relieve the nation from the hardships they have experienced under its rule.
He also pointed out that the PDP still holds significant political power, with 13 governors currently under its banner, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the leadership of Nyesom Wike. Although Wike’s loyalty to the PDP has been questioned, he has not yet officially left the party, which continues to view itself as the leading opposition force in the country. Abdullahi Ibrahim stressed that, given the PDP’s long history of governance, it is in a strong position to lead any opposition coalition aimed at defeating the APC in the next election.
Furthermore, the PDP believes that it is the responsibility of any opposition party to work toward salvaging the country from what they see as the APC’s mismanagement. Abdullahi Ibrahim reiterated that an alliance between opposition leaders would be in the best interest of Nigeria and could help lift the people from the despair and frustration that have gripped the country in recent years. He expressed hope that such a coalition would be capable of restoring hope to the Nigerian people and offering a viable alternative to the APC’s leadership.
While there may be differing opinions on the potential success of a renewed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance, it is clear that both the ruling APC and the opposition parties are strategizing ahead of the 2027 elections. Whether this proposed partnership will materialize and make a significant impact remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the political landscape in Nigeria continues to evolve, and the coming years will reveal whether the opposition can truly unite to challenge the dominance of the APC.