A political analyst and the Chief Executive Officer of NMS media consultancy, Hassan Abdulsalam, has raised concerns over the proposed alliance between Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
According to him, the alliance may struggle to gain trust in Northern Nigeria and could face challenges due to weak party structure.
Abdulsalam, who spoke in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Monday, said while the alliance may appear attractive to many Nigerians, especially young voters, it is not without serious concerns.
“Obi-Kwankwaso alliance may look very attractive to many people, especially first-time voters,” he said.
“Kwankwaso has a strong hold on the grassroots in Kano and the North-West, while Obi appeals to the youth, especially Christian youths.”
He added that many Nigerians are frustrated with the current political system and are eager for change.
“People are fed up with the old political system. The economy is biting really hard, so change is being sought at all cost,” he said.
However, Abdulsalam noted that the alliance faces a major challenge in the North due to trust issues surrounding Obi.
“The Northern youths don’t really trust Obi to have the zeal and energy to come through for them in this time of need,” he said.
“In fact, many believe Obi barely knows the Northern reality, meaning he does not fully understand the problems of the North.”
He also pointed out that both politicians come from different political backgrounds, which could create internal imbalance.
“This may look like a marriage of convenience because of the mismatch,” he said.
“Kwankwaso’s politics is largely regional, while Obi is seen more as a technocrat than a traditional politician.”
The analyst further raised concerns about religion, saying it could affect acceptance of the alliance in the North.
“There is also the issue of religion. Some Northern voters believe Obi may prioritise Christians over Muslims or other groups, and that could create division in leadership.”
Despite these concerns, Abdulsalam said the alliance could still succeed if both leaders are strategic and willing to work together.
“It can work if they are intentional, strategic and able to harmonise their visions,” he noted.
Speaking on their reported move to the NDC, Abdulsalam described it as ambitious but risky.
“This move seems too ambitious, and people who are overly ambitious sometimes do not get it right. We have seen this before.”
He compared it to past Nigerian leaders.
“Buhari was too ambitious to rule and we saw and felt how things played out. Tinubu was also too ambitious to become president and we can see how things are playing out. If these people continue on the same path, we may end up in the same situation again,” he said.
He also questioned the strength of the party, warning that lack of structure could affect their chances.
“The defection would not be a problem if the party has structure and strength at all levels. It is not just about producing a president and vice president, the party must be able to produce governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives. I don’t think NDC is there yet.”
Still, he acknowledged that Obi and Kwankwaso may attract votes because of their personal popularity.
“People may vote for them because of their credibility and the strong connection they have with their supporters,” he said.
Abdulsalam stressed that for him, the party’s structure matters more than its name.
“The name of the party does not matter much to me. What matters is the structure of the party,” he said.
He also offered a broader assessment of Nigeria’s political leaders, saying none currently enjoys universal trust.
“None of them (Presidential candidate) has universal trust. President Bola Tinubu is seen as experienced, but his policies are not working for many Nigerians.”
On former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, he said, “He has strong support from the old political bloc, but people don’t trust him to lead Nigeria to where it should be.”
He added that while Obi enjoys strong support among youths and educated Nigerians, he still faces distrust in the North.
“For Obi, he has the youths and educated class, but Northerners still distrust him,” he said.
On Kwankwaso, Abdulsalam said, “He is trusted in the North and has strong grassroots appeal, but the North alone cannot win a national election. He needs to do more to gain wider national acceptance.”
He concluded by describing the Obi-Kwankwaso option as the lesser evil in Nigeria’s current political landscape.
“When we are faced with two difficult choices, we go for the lesser one. For now, Obi-Kwankwaso may be seen as the lesser evil, even though we don’t fully know what to expect.”
Recall that on Sunday both Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso opted out of the ADC to join the NDC.
