In a blunt assessment of the 2027 political landscape, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atu Isa, has declared that any attempt by the opposition to unseat the incumbent administration will be futile unless Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is featured prominently on the ballot.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Naija Unfettered podcast, a Symfoni podcast, the student leader emphasized that the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement remains the “soul of Northern grassroots politics” and a non-negotiable factor for any successful coalition.
According to Comrade Isa, the road to the presidency for any opposition alliance must pass through the “Kano powerhouse,” arguing that Kwankwaso possesses a unique, cult-like following among the Northern youth and the talakawa (the commoners) that other politicians simply cannot replicate.
He was emphatic that even high-profile combinations involving Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar would struggle to gain the necessary traction in the North without Kwankwaso’s direct involvement on the ticket, stating, “If Kwankwaso is not on the ballot—either as a presidential candidate or a key vice-presidential partner—forget it. The opposition is not going anywhere.”
The NANS President also addressed the shifting political tides, specifically highlighting Kwankwaso’s strategic alignment with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Isa suggested that the presidency is currently “wasting time” trying to cause confusion within the ADC because they recognize the danger of Kwankwaso using the platform to anchor a mega-coalition.
He hinted that a strategic placement of Kwankwaso—potentially even as a Senate President candidate within a broader alliance—could be the “wildcard” that tips the scale against the current government.
This warning comes amid a growing wave of frustration in the North over the rising cost of living, naira devaluation, and insecurity.
Isa noted that many traditional power brokers and Islamic scholars who influenced the 2023 elections have lost their “honor” in the eyes of the masses, leaving a vacuum for a populist figure like Kwankwaso to consolidate the vote.
He concluded that while names like Atiku and Obi carry significant weight, the opposition’s dream of a 2027 victory remains unattainable without the “Red Cap” movement and Kwankwaso’s name appearing on the ballot to mobilize the ordinary people.
