Kano, Kano State, Nigeria — Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for stronger cooperation among opposition political leaders to confront Nigeria’s deepening economic and security challenges, warning that the country has reached a critical point.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Obi expressed concern over rising insecurity, unemployment, and declining public confidence in governance. He stressed that addressing these issues requires more than political rhetoric and called for coordinated national action.
Okay News reports that Obi’s remarks followed renewed opposition realignments after former governor of Kano State in northern Nigeria and ex-presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso joined the African Democratic Congress. Kwankwaso officially entered the party on Monday, March 30, 2026, in Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
He was received by the party’s National Chairman, former President of the Nigerian Senate David Mark, alongside other opposition figures including former Governor of Sokoto State in northwestern Nigeria Aminu Tambuwal, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, former Senator Dino Melaye, and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress John Odigie-Oyegun.
Political analysts view the move as part of broader efforts to build a united opposition coalition ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. Obi disclosed that he visited Kano at Kwankwaso’s invitation, describing the development as an important step toward rebuilding Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
He urged political actors to put aside ethnic, religious, and regional differences, emphasizing that the goal should extend beyond winning elections to strengthening governance and restoring public trust.
He said, “Nigeria is at a critical stage in its history… The challenges we face, economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and declining public trust, require more than rhetoric. They require deliberate collaboration, disciplined leadership, and a shared commitment to national progress.”
Obi further appealed to opposition members and citizens to prioritise national interest, arguing that only coordinated efforts can tackle insecurity and economic hardship while laying the foundation for long term stability.
