Baba Yusuf, policy strategist and Group CEO of Global Investment and Trade Company, warned that the Peter Obi‑Rabi’u Kwankwaso ticket may struggle to meet the constitutional requirements for victory in the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on Arise Television’s “Prime Time” on Friday, Yusuf said the duo could attract a sizable voter base but is unlikely to achieve the geographic spread needed across Nigeria’s North and South.
Yusuf noted that while Obi and Kwankwaso might mobilise around 70 million voters who abstained in the 2023 election, the distribution of those votes is crucial. “Even if they gather that many votes, the question is whether the numbers will be spread across the North and Southern Nigeria to satisfy the constitutional mandate for election,” he said.
The comments came after Obi and Kwankwaso’s recent departure from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to join the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). The switch, announced last Sunday, was attributed to ongoing court cases and internal party divisions.
Yusuf cautioned that a “me‑me” approach could undermine their prospects. He suggested the ticket may need to engage in extensive consultations and negotiations, possibly involving senior politicians such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to forge power‑sharing arrangements. “If they adopt an attitude of ‘we don’t need you,’ it will not yield any positive result,” Yusuf warned.
The strategist’s assessment underscores the importance of regional balance in Nigerian presidential contests, where the Constitution requires a candidate to secure not only a majority of votes but also at least 25 percent of the votes in two-thirds of the states. Observers will watch how the Obi‑Kwankwaso alliance addresses these geographic imperatives as the 2027 election cycle gains momentum.
