As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, a powerful coalition of opposition figures and discontented stalwarts from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is gaining ground, sending ripples through the nation’s political landscape.
DAILY POST investigations reveal that high-profile politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal are currently in strategic talks to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralphs Okey Nwosu, is also playing a central role in the opposition alliance.
Atiku-Obi Ticket in the Works?
Amid the coalition talks, speculations are rife that Peter Obi may run as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election—a reunion of the 2019 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket that challenged then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
Though INEC declared President Tinubu winner of the 2023 elections with 8,794,726 votes, Atiku and Obi—who ran on separate platforms—garnered 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 votes respectively. Analysts suggest that a united front could have significantly altered the outcome.
Despite viral reports, the Labour Party has distanced itself from any ongoing coalition efforts. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stated unequivocally that LP is not part of any coalition and would not be offering automatic tickets, including to Peter Obi.
Obi’s supporters, led by Obidient Movement coordinator Yunusa Tanko, insist the former Anambra governor is still in the race for president—not as a running mate.
APC Moves to Counter Opposition Forces
Sources within the APC say the ruling party is uneasy with the growing coalition and has begun aggressive moves to tighten its grip on power. One key strategy reportedly involves guaranteeing automatic 2027 tickets for all first-term APC governors, with the promise of full party support for their re-election bids.
This move is seen as a tactic to lure opposition governors to defect, particularly in politically strategic states like Delta and Akwa Ibom.
According to an APC insider, governors from opposition parties are being promised total control over their state’s political machinery—including handpicking candidates for national assembly positions—should they switch allegiance to the ruling party.
Internal Tensions Threaten Coalition Unity
Despite early gains, the coalition faces growing internal challenges, particularly around the choice of political platform. Reports that the ADC could serve as the coalition’s umbrella led to amendments in its constitution to grant equal rights to incoming members. However, this sparked resistance from existing stakeholders unwilling to give up party positions.
Similarly, SDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, ruled out stepping down for any candidate, casting further doubt on the coalition’s cohesion.
While momentum is building behind a united front to unseat the APC, uncertainty persists over leadership roles, party alignment, and candidate consensus.
For now, one thing is clear—Nigeria’s political atmosphere is heating up, and the road to 2027 promises intense power plays, strategic realignments, and possibly, an election unlike any other in the nation’s democratic history.
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