Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice‑presidential nominee of the [Nigeria Democratic Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_parties_in_Nigeria), told [Channels Television](https://www.channelstv.com/)’s Politics Today on Thursday that he used a courtesy visit by a Fulani delegation as an opportunity to ask them to press former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step down from the 2027 presidential contest.
He explained that the group, representing Fulani communities from various parts of the country, had come to his residence for a friendly call. Kwankwaso said he asked them to take some time before returning to their hometowns to convey a request to Atiku to withdraw from the upcoming election.
"I met with a group of Fulani people from across the country who came for a courtesy visit to my house, and I felt it was an opportunity for me to talk to them," Kwankwaso said. "I asked them to create time before going back to their towns and villages to talk to Atiku to withdraw from the 2027 presidential election."
Kwankwaso added that his relationship with Atiku is long‑standing, noting, "Atiku is somebody that I know fairly well, and I have done so much together with him in the past, more than anybody who is around him today."
**What was the purpose of the meeting?**
The former governor used the encounter to signal his preference for a different candidate lineup within the opposition, hoping that Atiku’s withdrawal would reshape the dynamics of the 2027 race.