Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has dismissed speculations about a possible presidential alliance between Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Fani-Kayode said Kwankwaso would never agree to serve as a running mate to Obi because of his political experience, influence in the North and long-standing role in Nigerian politics.
The former minister made the remarks in a political commentary titled, “The Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage Between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi,” where he also spoke extensively about growing cracks within opposition camps seeking to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
According to him, the opposition coalition being discussed by key political figures is already facing internal distrust and power struggles. He claimed supporters of Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Kwankwaso are divided over who should lead any proposed alliance against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Fani-Kayode argued that the disagreement among opposition leaders shows that personal ambition remains stronger than collective interest within the coalition talks.
Speaking on the possibility of a Kwankwaso-Obi ticket, he said the former Kano governor is too experienced politically to accept a subordinate role under Obi.
“I do not see how a seasoned and highly respected Northern politician like Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who has served as governor and minister and has spent decades in politics, can agree to be a running mate to Peter Obi,” he stated.
He also referenced previous comments credited to Kwankwaso, where the NNPP leader reportedly distanced himself from suggestions that he could deputise Obi in a future presidential contest.
The former minister further argued that religious, regional and ideological differences between both politicians would make such an alliance difficult to sustain politically.
Fani-Kayode accused Obi and Atiku of lacking political consistency because of their movement across different political parties over the years. He claimed repeated defections among opposition figures have weakened public confidence in their coalition efforts.
The former minister also criticised Obi’s political style, alleging that the former Anambra governor often exits political platforms whenever disagreements emerge.
He cited recent public remarks made by Obi’s former running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, as well as comments from former Obi allies including Kenneth Okonkwo and Babachir Lawal, who have openly questioned Obi’s political approach in recent months.
Fani-Kayode, a strong ally of President Tinubu, maintained that the opposition would struggle to defeat the president in 2027. He said Tinubu’s political structure, alliances and experience place him ahead of rival politicians already positioning for the next election cycle.
He added that ongoing disagreements within the opposition would eventually frustrate plans to build a united front against the APC.
The former minister concluded by urging Atiku and Obi to abandon what he described as an unrealistic attempt to return to power, insisting that neither politician would regain control of the country’s leadership.
