A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Iliyasu Kwankwaso, has said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lacks the political influence and northern acceptance of the late President Muhammadu Buhari to pose a serious challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Kwankwaso, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, argued that the political landscape in northern Nigeria had changed considerably, making it increasingly difficult for opposition politicians to rely on ethnic and regional sentiments to secure electoral support.
He maintained that Atiku, who has contested for presidency several times, had yet to build a political following comparable to Buhari’s, particularly among Hausa-Fulani voters who formed a significant part of the late president’s support base.
“Atiku is not Buhari. He does not possess the size, stature and acceptance of the late Nigerian President to pose a threat to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Kwankwaso said.
The APC chieftain also questioned Atiku’s record in government, pointing to his eight years as vice president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 and 2007.
He argued that the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate had yet to demonstrate a compelling record from his years in office to convince Nigerians that he has what it takes to lead the country.
Kwankwaso said northern voters were increasingly concerned about leadership performance, economic development and policies that could improve their living conditions, rather than ethnic or religious affiliations.
“The North has gone beyond primordial sentiment, and his penchant for relying on the ethno-religious card will certainly fail him,” he added.
He further alleged that Atiku’s political associates were aware of his limited influence among Hausa-Fulani voters, claiming that this had informed what he described as desperate efforts to undermine or collapse the Nigeria Democratic Congress under its banner.
Kwankwaso did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.
He expressed confidence that Tinubu would remain competitive in the North in the 2027 presidential election, despite efforts by opposition parties to build a regional coalition against the President.
The comments come as political parties and opposition figures intensify consultations ahead of the 2027 general election, with the North expected to remain a major battleground because of its large electorate population.
Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023, lost to Buhari in 2019 and Tinubu in 2023.
The former VP has remained a prominent figure in opposition politics amid discussions about possible alliances and the search for a candidate capable of challenging the APC in 2027.
Buhari, who died in July 2025, won the presidency in 2015 and secured re-election in 2019. His electoral success was built partly on strong support in northern Nigeria, where his popularity helped the APC defeat the then-ruling PDP in 2015.