Senator Rufai Hanga, who represents Kano Central Senatorial District, has dropped strong hints about a possible Peter Obi–Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso political alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections, suggesting that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) may become the platform for the emerging coalition.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, Hanga said an Obi–Kwankwaso ticket would be widely accepted, describing both the Kwankwasiyya and Obedient movements as powerful political forces capable of reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape.
“You know… Obi–Kwankwaso, that’s OK,” Hanga said, while responding to questions about possible opposition realignments.
He explained that Kwankwasiyya, like the Obedient Movement, is not a political party but a mass political movement with strong grassroots support across the country.
“Kwankwasiyya is not a party. It’s a movement. Like Obedient, it’s a movement, not a party, you understand? And Kwankwasiyya is the strongest movement in this country. We have the largest movement in the country. Obedient movement is a very large movement too,” he stated.
The senator, however, said his formal declaration for the ADC would depend on the outcome of the pending Supreme Court judgment over the party’s leadership tussle.
He disclosed that if the court affirms the leadership of former Senate President David Mark, he would openly declare for the ADC, but if the judgment goes otherwise, the political bloc may move to another platform.
“I’m not yet declared anyway for the ADC. I’m waiting for the Supreme Court judgment. If the decision in the court is, no, you can’t have this ADC, this boy we’re financing is going to have it so big, we’ll go to another party.
“Whichever new party we move to is what I’ll declare in the Senate. But if the verdict is that, look, David Mark is in charge, then you’ll hear me after tomorrow declaring for ADC,” he said.
Hanga clarified that although he came into the Senate under a different political party, his political loyalty remains with the Kwankwasiyya movement.
“I came to the Senate under another party, but I’m with Kwankwasiyya,” he added.
The lawmaker also used the opportunity to deliver a scathing criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, lamenting worsening hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and widespread poverty across the country.
“People are suffering. People are crying. There is hunger. There is poverty. No employment. There are so many people on the streets,” he said.
He described the recent mass abduction of over one hundred persons as a national disgrace, condemning the inability of security agencies to prevent or resolve such incidents.
“The insecurity is too much. It is scandalous that one hundred and something people will be abducted at the same time, like animals, and they are nowhere to be traced.
“It’s shameful. It’s shameful for one hundred and something people to be kidnapped at the same time. They are scandalous. They are terrible. They are unfortunate,” Hanga said.
Expressing personal disappointment with the current administration, the senator said many Nigerians had expected President Tinubu to perform better based on his record as former governor of Lagos State.
“My disappointment personally is that this is somebody who was very unique when he was the governor of Lagos. We were hopeful that when he comes to Nigeria, Nigeria will be different.
“Because Buhari ended up a disappointment. So when he came, we said, ah, this is the same thing,” he said.
His comments are likely to intensify speculations over a possible opposition coalition involving Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other major political actors ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
