A former governorship candidate in Enugu State, Dr. Alex Chukwuemeka Obiechina, believes a joint presidential ticket involving Mr. Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso would pose a significant threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Obiechina said such an alliance would mirror Nigerians’ rising demand for political change and could fundamentally reshape the country’s electoral dynamics.

“A joint ADC ticket by Obi and Kwankwaso would be a formidable force. The Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements are potent against rigging. No one can short-change such a coalition,” he said.

Obiechina expressed confidence that Obi would outperform his 2023 showing in the next election, dismissing claims that the former Labour Party presidential candidate lacks political structure.

“Obi has awakened Nigerians to demand competence, accountability, and value for their votes. That consciousness is the real political structure,” he said.

According to him, Obi’s movement has directly challenged godfatherism and money politics, which he described as entrenched drivers of corruption and poor governance in the country.

“Democracy means leaders are servants of the people, not lords over them. Reducing the cost of governance, as Obi proposes, will release resources for healthcare, education, and food security,” Obiechina said.

He argued that the 2027 general election would amount to a referendum on the APC’s 12 years in power, noting that voters are increasingly guided by performance and results rather than propaganda, ethnic sentiment, or vote buying.

Obiechina also faulted the Nigerian Senate over what he termed cosmetic and deceptive amendments to the Electoral Act, warning that such changes could undermine the credibility of future elections.

He said ambiguities surrounding provisions on the electronic transmission of results create loopholes for manipulation, particularly where results from collation centres are allowed to override polling unit data in cases of vaguely defined “technical failure.”

“By refusing to clearly define what constitutes technical failure, the Senate has deliberately created room for abuse. This provision is likely to be exploited by incumbents,” he warned.

He maintained that electoral laws must be unambiguous and manipulation-proof, insisting that results uploaded from polling units to INEC’s portal should remain the primary and binding record.

Obiechina further called for strict safeguards and sanctions where electronic transmission fails, stressing that any electoral official who deliberately frustrates the process should face prosecution for electoral offences.