Osuntokun dismisses claims Obasanjo working for Tinubu, insists ex-president backs Obi

Akin Osuntokun, a former political adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has asserted that Obasanjo is actively supporting a potential presidential ticket pairing Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso for the 2027 Nigerian general election. Osuntokun described this alliance as significantly more realistic and compelling than the Labour Party's 2023 arrangement.

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Obi and Kwankwaso is a much more realistic, more compelling ticket than the 2023 one.

Speaking on ARISE News, Osuntokun dismissed suggestions that Obasanjo's recent letter responding to former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba was aimed at benefiting President Bola Tinubu. Instead, he maintained that Obasanjo remains critical of Tinubu's administration and is instead championing the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso ticket. "If you can say that Obasanjo is supporting any ticket, it is Peter Obi and Kwankwaso. As a matter of fact, he is the main sponsor of that ticket," Osuntokun claimed.

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Obasanjo is critical of Tinubu. If you can say that Obasanjo is supporting any ticket, it is Peter Obi and Kwankwaso. As a matter of fact, he is the main sponsor of that ticket.

Osuntokun further alleged that Obasanjo personally brought Obi and Kwankwaso together, acting as the primary broker for the potential alliance. He believes Kwankwaso's political influence, particularly in Kano State, would provide a substantial advantage to the ticket. "He was the one who brokered the ticket between Obi and Kwankwaso. Both of them are quite close to him," Osuntokun stated, adding that the ticket "makes sense and has the potential to make a lot of impact in the 2027 election."

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He was the one who brokered the ticket between Obi and Kwankwaso. Both of them are quite close to him.

Osuntokun also revealed that Obasanjo had attempted to broker a similar arrangement before the 2023 election. He recalled Obasanjo telling Kwankwaso that if they had agreed then, "both of you would have spent one term, and Kwankwaso would have been the beneficiary of that." These remarks follow Obasanjo's recent open letter refuting Osoba's allegations about Obasanjo deceiving leaders before the 2003 elections.

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If you had agreed the other time, both of you would have spent one term, and Kwankwaso would have been the beneficiary of that.