As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, political activities are already beginning to shape the country’s electoral landscape.
According to The PUNCH, a major development in the unfolding political scene is renewed efforts by three prominent opposition figures—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso—to work together under a single political platform. The aim of this potential alliance is to present a stronger and more united front capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in the next presidential election.
In the 2023 presidential election, the three politicians contested separately and collectively secured over 15 million votes. However, their individual candidacies split the opposition vote, ultimately allowing Tinubu to win in a closely contested race. With current coalition discussions reportedly centered around the African Democratic Congress, there is growing optimism among opposition groups that a united approach could significantly change the outcome of the 2027 elections.
Despite this optimism, the proposed alliance faces several challenges, including differences in political ideology, personal ambitions, and existing party structures, all of which could affect its success.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, has expressed confidence in the chances of the coalition. In an interview with The PUNCH, he suggested that dissatisfaction among citizens with the current administration could play a key role in favour of the opposition if they manage to present a unified and coordinated effort.
“No, I fancy their chances because in 2023, a lot of people who voted for him (President Bola Tinubu) are now disappointed. He has lost supporters.
“They voted for promises that haven’t been fulfilled and seen the naira depreciate. They’ve seen inflation increase, and insecurity has increased in the country.
“So more than anything else, it is President Tinubu who would have lost supporters, not Peter Obi, Kwankwaso or Atiku. That is the situation,” he said.
Responding to concerns about whether the three opposition figures could truly collaborate, Johnson dismissed such doubts, describing them as assumptions largely encouraged by the ruling party.
He maintained that the trio would work together, noting that there was no valid reason to believe otherwise. According to him, it was the All Progressives Congress (APC) that appeared to be expecting disagreements among the opposition figures, but he insisted that their cooperation would hold.
Johnson also addressed worries about possible disagreements after the party primaries within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He expressed confidence that any internal issues would be resolved amicably, adding that the group had already committed to working together.
He further explained that their decision to unite was aimed at providing Nigerians with an alternative political platform, and that this shared goal would help maintain unity within the party even after the primaries….See More
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