“We’re Not Working for APC, We Remains in 2027 Presidential Race” — NDC Vice Presidential Candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso
Ademola Busayo 
Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has ruled out the withdrawal of the party’s presidential ticket for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar or any other candidate in the 2027 election.
Kwankwaso also rejected accusations that he and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi were working for President Bola Tinubu, accusing the African Democratic Congress presidential campaign of targeting them instead of promoting its own candidate.
“Let me state clearly and unequivocally: we will not withdraw our candidature for the ADC or any other party. We remain confident in our capacity, competence, and readiness to lead Nigeria,” he said.
The former Kano governor spoke in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, following criticism from the ADC Presidential Campaign Council over his call for Atiku to step down for Obi.
The council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, had accused Kwankwaso of advancing Tinubu’s political interests through the proposal, which he made during an interview on Channels Television.
In a statement on Friday, Ologbondiyan described the intervention as self-serving and capable of deepening divisions within the opposition.
He questioned why Kwankwaso was targeting opposition leaders rather than challenging the Tinubu administration over economic hardship, hunger, poverty and insecurity.
Responding, Kwankwaso accused the ADC campaign of directing unnecessary attacks at him, Obi and the NDC.
He said the campaign should present its candidate’s credentials and policy proposals rather than suggest that the NDC was working for the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“The OK ticket is neither working for nor acting on behalf of the APC or any of its candidates,” he said.
Kwankwaso dismissed suggestions of a last-minute withdrawal for Atiku and warned that similar claims could be circulated on the eve of the election to mislead NDC supporters.
He insisted that there was neither a reason nor any possibility of the ticket stepping aside for the ADC candidate.
Kwankwaso urged Atiku’s campaign to address allegations reportedly made against its candidate by Vice-President Kashim Shettima rather than attack the NDC leadership. He did not specify those allegations in the supplied statement.
He also criticised the APC-led government and the ADC, arguing that neither offered the alternative Nigeria needed.
According to him, the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket would prioritise national unity alongside security, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and the economy.
He maintained that the ticket had the capacity, credibility and support across northern and southern Nigeria to pursue its agenda.
“I, therefore, urge all our supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to continue working toward the victory of our great party,” he said.
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Emmanuel Femi Adedayo 