Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, of working in the interest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Adeyanju made the allegation in a post on X on Saturday, September 26, 2026, claiming that the Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket could repeat what he described as the division of opposition votes during the 2023 presidential election. He urged Nigerians not to support the ticket, arguing that votes for the duo would ultimately benefit Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Key Highlights
- Deji Adeyanju accused Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of working for President Bola Tinubu.
- Adeyanju alleged that the duo played a similar role in the 2023 election by contributing to opposition vote fragmentation.
- He urged Nigerians not to vote for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket in 2027.
- Obi and Kwankwaso are the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
- Obi contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, while Kwankwaso contested under the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
- Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election, with Obi finishing third and Kwankwaso fourth.
- NDC chieftain Buba Galadima recently said Obi and Kwankwaso are “on the same page” despite differences from their 2023 campaigns.
- Obi recently said he would not insult or disrespect Tinubu because he is the President of Nigeria.
- Adeyanju’s claim is an allegation and has not been established as fact.
- The controversy adds to wider debate over opposition unity ahead of the 2027 election.
Adeyanju Accuses Obi and Kwankwaso
Adeyanju said Obi and Kwankwaso were repeating what he described as their role in the 2023 election.
He wrote on X:
“Peter Obi and Kwankwaso are working for Tinubu like they did in 2023. Don’t waste your votes again on them like 2023. A vote for them is a vote for Bola Tinubu and the APC. They know exactly what they are doing.”
Adeyanju did not provide evidence in the post establishing that Obi and Kwankwaso are working for Tinubu or the APC.
His comments instead represent his political assessment of the emerging opposition arrangement ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi, Kwankwaso Now Lead NDC Ticket
Obi and Kwankwaso are currently the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election.
The two politicians formally joined the NDC in May 2026 after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where they had previously been part of wider opposition realignment efforts. Obi was subsequently unveiled as the NDC presidential candidate, with Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The NDC has since moved to establish its Presidential Campaign Council, giving Obi and Kwankwaso authority to nominate several key officials in consultation with the party leadership.
NDC chieftain Buba Galadima said on September 24 that Obi and Kwankwaso were working together and that the party was harmonising areas of difference between the two politicians.
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What Happened in the 2023 Presidential Election?
The 2023 presidential election is central to Adeyanju’s argument.
Peter Obi contested under the platform of the Labour Party, while Rabiu Kwankwaso was the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Tinubu of the APC won the election, followed by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, while Obi finished third and Kwankwaso fourth.
The separate opposition candidacies resulted in votes being distributed among several major candidates.
Adeyanju and other critics of opposition fragmentation have argued that the division made it more difficult for opposition parties to present a single candidate against Tinubu.
However, whether the 2023 outcome can be attributed specifically to the division between the opposition candidates remains a matter of political analysis rather than an established fact.
Obi and Kwankwaso Previously Joined Opposition Coalition
Ahead of the 2027 election, Obi and Kwankwaso initially participated in broader efforts to bring opposition figures together.
The two later moved to the NDC, where the current ticket was formed.
The development has created a new opposition configuration, with the NDC presenting Obi and Kwankwaso as a combined ticket with support bases in different parts of the country.
The party has described its arrangement as an effort to build a nationwide political platform, while supporters of the ticket have highlighted the combination of Obi’s political base and Kwankwaso’s influence in northern Nigeria.
Obi Says He Will Not Insult Tinubu
Adeyanju’s latest criticism also comes after remarks by Obi concerning his relationship with President Tinubu.
Speaking in Enugu, Obi said he would not insult or disrespect the President despite their political differences.
Obi said Tinubu was the President of Nigeria and therefore deserved his respect.
The statement has generated discussion among political commentators, with some interpreting Obi’s approach as an indication of his political style, while others view it as consistent with his position that political disagreements should not become personal.
Obi’s remarks, however, do not establish that he supports Tinubu’s administration or that his political activities are being undertaken on behalf of the APC.
Adeyanju’s Claim Meets Broader Opposition Debate
The latest accusation comes as opposition parties and politicians continue to debate how best to challenge the ruling APC in 2027.
The formation of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket has changed the opposition landscape, particularly because both politicians previously contested separately in 2023.
Other opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, remain involved in separate political arrangements ahead of the election.
The competing strategies have produced debate over whether opposition parties should consolidate behind fewer platforms or maintain separate political identities.
NDC Defends Obi-Kwankwaso Partnership
The NDC and its supporters have presented the Obi-Kwankwaso partnership as a deliberate attempt to combine political support across different regions.
Buba Galadima recently said the two politicians were on the same page and that the party was working to resolve outstanding differences between them.
The NDC has also continued preparations for the 2027 campaign, including the formation of its Presidential Campaign Council and grassroots mobilisation efforts.
These developments contrast with Adeyanju’s interpretation that the ticket could contribute to further fragmentation of the opposition.
What Adeyanju’s Allegation Means for the 2027 Debate
Adeyanju’s comments have added another layer to the growing debate over opposition strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
His position is that the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket could divide votes that might otherwise be consolidated behind another opposition platform.
Supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso, however, have presented their alliance as a separate political alternative and continue to campaign under the NDC platform.
The competing positions highlight the continuing debate over opposition unity, political alliances and the different strategies being pursued ahead of 2027.
Adeyanju’s allegation remains a political claim rather than an established finding. Neither Obi nor Kwankwaso has, in the reports reviewed, publicly accepted the allegation that they are working for Tinubu or the APC.
As the 2027 campaign develops, the relationship between the NDC ticket and other opposition platforms is likely to remain a major issue in Nigeria’s political debate.
Follow us on X for more updates on the 2027 election.
