Tanko rejects Muslim-Muslim ticket, backs Obi-Kwankwaso partnership ahead of 2027

National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, has rejected calls for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, while reaffirming the movement’s support for the political partnership involving former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Tanko’s position comes amid intense political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with opposition figures and political movements increasingly exploring alliances aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Obidient Movement has continued to promote an Obi-Kwankwaso partnership, arguing that a political arrangement bringing together support bases from the South and North could broaden the opposition’s national appeal.

Tanko has previously argued that Kwankwaso’s political influence in northern Nigeria could help address one of the major criticisms Obi faced during the 2023 presidential election — the perception that he lacked sufficient support in parts of the North.

Speaking on the proposed political direction, Tanko has maintained that the objective should be to build a broad national coalition capable of bridging Nigeria’s regional and religious divides rather than deepening them.

The debate over a Muslim-Muslim ticket has remained politically sensitive in Nigeria, particularly since the 2023 presidential election, when President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima contested on the same religious ticket.

Supporters of the arrangement have argued that competence and political capacity should take precedence over religious considerations, while critics have expressed concerns about religious balance and representation in a multi-faith country.

For the Obidient Movement, Tanko’s position places greater emphasis on political inclusiveness and regional balance as the 2027 contest approaches.

The movement’s position has also evolved alongside major changes in the opposition landscape. Obi and Kwankwaso moved from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in May 2026, amid political and legal uncertainties surrounding the ADC. Recent reports have described Kwankwaso as the NDC’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election. (The Telegraph Nigeria)

Tanko has defended the political realignment, describing it as necessary to preserve the viability of the opposition and provide Nigerians with an alternative ahead of the next election. He has also argued that the combination of Obi’s support base and Kwankwaso’s northern political network could strengthen the coalition’s national reach. (Naija News)

However, the religious composition of the ticket is likely to remain an important issue as political parties prepare for the 2027 election.

Nigeria’s political history shows that presidential tickets are often assessed not only on the candidates’ individual credentials but also on their ability to balance the country’s complex regional, religious and ethnic interests.

For the Obi-Kwankwaso camp, the challenge will therefore extend beyond securing political endorsements. The emerging alliance will have to demonstrate that it can translate its combined support bases into a genuinely national coalition capable of competing across Nigeria’s diverse political landscape.

With the 2027 election approaching, Tanko’s rejection of a Muslim-Muslim ticket adds another dimension to the broader debate over what form opposition parties should adopt as they seek to challenge the APC.

The ultimate test, however, will be whether the emerging political partnership can move beyond social-media enthusiasm and regional support to build an organisation capable of winning votes across all six geopolitical zones.