Kwankwaso Urges Atiku to Quit 2027 Race, Focus on Wazirin Adamawa Role
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, citing age, health and the need for him to focus on his traditional responsibilities.
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to step aside from the 2027 presidential contest, saying the former vice president should instead devote his attention to his traditional role as the Wazirin Adamawa.
Kwankwaso made the appeal while receiving members of the Fulani Farmers Association at his residence in Abuja, where he argued that Atiku's age and health should persuade him to withdraw from the race. He also appealed to Atiku's supporters to encourage the former vice president to reconsider his presidential ambition.
Addressing the delegation, the former Kano State governor said:
“Go to the Wazirin of Adamawa's house and tell him in Fulani that he needs to focus on his traditional title of Wazirin, given his age and health. If Allah grants us success, we will take good care of him, especially since you all come from Adamawa. An apology should be offered to him.”
The remarks add a new dimension to the growing political contest ahead of the 2027 general election, where opposition parties are already navigating coalition talks, leadership negotiations and competing presidential ambitions. Atiku, who previously served as Nigeria's vice president and remains one of the country's most prominent opposition figures, has not publicly responded to Kwankwaso's latest comments.
Both politicians have long occupied influential positions in Nigeria's opposition landscape. While Atiku has contested the presidency multiple times, Kwankwaso commands a significant political following through the Kwankwasiyya movement, particularly across northern Nigeria, making him a key player in emerging political realignments.
Kwankwaso's statement reflects his personal political position rather than an official decision of any opposition coalition, and there has been no indication that Atiku intends to abandon his candidacy. As preparations for 2027 gather momentum, debates over leadership, succession and opposition unity are increasingly shaping Nigeria's political conversation.
The exchange underscores the intense jockeying already underway before the next presidential election. Beyond personalities, the ability of opposition leaders to reconcile competing ambitions may ultimately prove just as decisive as the campaigns themselves.