The All Progressives Congress (APC) has sharply criticised Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso's public appeal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, with party spokesman Felix Morka describing the opposition's negotiations as premature and hypocritical.
Kwankwaso, running as Peter Obi's vice-presidential candidate on the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket, made the appeal on Monday, citing Atiku's age and health. He promised that the NDC would take care of Atiku's welfare if the opposition ticket wins the presidency.
APC Spokesman Condemns Opposition Negotiations
Reacting in a post on X on Saturday, Morka questioned why opposition figures are negotiating over the presidency before Nigerians have cast a single vote in the 2027 general election. He described the situation as "horse trading" over an office the opposition has neither won nor been guaranteed.
Morka called it a sign of the hypocrisy he says runs through the opposition camp. His remarks came after Kwankwaso's public appeal to Atiku to step aside from the presidential race, pointing to Atiku's age and health as reasons for reconsideration.
The APC spokesman's response signals that the ruling party intends to use the internal wrangling within the opposition as a political talking point, framing the negotiations as evidence of disorder rather than strategy.
Atiku's Stance and Opposition Alliances
Atiku, who will turn 81 next year, has shown no interest in stepping down. He has maintained that the 2027 election will be his final shot at the presidency, having previously contested in 2007, 2019, and 2023.
The public exchange between Kwankwaso and the ruling party comes as opposition figures continue to map out alliances ahead of next year's elections, with the NDC working to consolidate support around Obi and Kwankwaso.
Atiku's camp has not publicly responded to Kwankwaso's offer.
Broader Political Context
Legit.ng earlier reported that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo publicly called out APC governorship candidate Sharafadeen Alli over a viral social media video. Makinde made the remarks while speaking in Yoruba at a public outing, linking the video to the 2027 governorship race in Oyo state.
The governor drew a sharp contrast between voting for his candidate and voting for Alli, raising questions about the state's future. This development adds to the political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, as opposition parties seek to build alliances and the APC positions itself to counter their efforts.
