Obasanjo Named Alleged ‘Principal Sponsor’ of Peter Obi–Kwankwaso Ticket
Fresh claim puts former president at the centre of opposition alliance as political calculations intensify
A fresh claim has thrown up a potentially significant new dimension to the political calculations ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo allegedly identified as the principal sponsor of the Peter Obi–Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The claim was made by Akin Osuntokun, a former political adviser to Obasanjo, during an interview with ARISE News on Sunday.
According to Osuntokun, Obasanjo did not merely support the emerging alliance between Obi and Kwankwaso but personally played a role in bringing the two politicians together.
He described Obasanjo as the “principal sponsor” of the ticket and claimed that the former president was instrumental in brokering the political arrangement.
Legit.ng reported the comments, quoting Osuntokun as saying that Obasanjo was the person who brought Obi and Kwankwaso together and that both politicians are close to the former president.
How the alleged alliance was brokered
Osuntokun’s account suggests that the Obi-Kwankwaso partnership was not an accidental product of the latest opposition realignment but the outcome of political discussions that had been explored for some time.
He claimed that Obasanjo had attempted to facilitate a similar arrangement ahead of the 2023 presidential election, but that the deal did not materialise at the time.
The former adviser further suggested that Obasanjo had previously told Kwankwaso that if the arrangement had been accepted earlier, both men could have served one term each, with Kwankwaso eventually benefiting from the succession arrangement.
The revelation adds another layer to the political significance of the current Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
Why Obasanjo’s alleged role matters
Obasanjo remains one of Nigeria’s most influential political figures, even though he no longer holds public office.
His alleged involvement in bringing together Obi and Kwankwaso would therefore be politically significant because the two politicians command different but potentially complementary constituencies.
Obi brings substantial support among voters who identify with his 2023 presidential campaign and his emphasis on competence, accountability and economic restructuring.
Kwankwaso, on the other hand, brings a formidable political structure and a strong base in Kano and parts of northern Nigeria.
The combination has consequently attracted considerable attention as opposition forces seek a ticket capable of mounting a serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Obasanjo and the Tinubu controversy
Osuntokun’s claim also comes against the backdrop of speculation over Obasanjo’s current political calculations.
There have been competing narratives about whether the former president’s recent political interventions could indirectly favour President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Osuntokun rejected that interpretation, arguing that it would be difficult to reconcile the claim that Obasanjo is working for Tinubu with his alleged support for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
But there is an important caveat.
Neither Legit.ng’s report nor the available reports independently establish that Obasanjo is actually financing the NDC ticket. The claim remains an assertion made by Osuntokun, a former adviser to the ex-president.
That distinction is important as the 2027 political contest becomes increasingly intense.
A ticket that could reshape 2027
The Obi-Kwankwaso alliance has already generated significant political interest because it brings together two politicians with different regional and political strengths.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has also argued that an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket could represent the opposition’s strongest route to victory in 2027.
The latest claim about Obasanjo’s alleged role therefore raises a bigger question: how deep is the former president’s involvement in the opposition’s 2027 calculations?
For now, Osuntokun’s revelation provides an intriguing answer—but it remains a claim that could generate further political reactions in the days ahead.
Headlineswave will continue to follow the unfolding political realignment ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Source: Legit.ng; The Punch
