The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appears increasingly concerned as opposition figures and disgruntled APC members unite to form a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
According to reports, several political heavyweights are spearheading the coalition talks, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal. The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralphs Okey Nwosu, is also reportedly playing a key role in the coalition movement.
Potential Atiku-Obi Ticket
Speculation is mounting that Peter Obi might serve as Atiku Abubakar's running mate in the upcoming election. The duo previously contested together on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform in 2019 against then-incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, securing 11,262,978 votes according to INEC figures.
In the 2023 election, Obi and Atiku ran separately, with Obi representing the Labour Party and Atiku the PDP. President Tinubu emerged victorious with 8,794,726 votes, while Atiku and Obi garnered 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 votes respectively. Political analysts suggest that had they joined forces, they might have secured over 13 million votes, potentially defeating the ruling party.
APC's Counter-Strategy
Sources indicate that the APC is actively working to counteract this opposition alignment by implementing strategies to attract more governors and lawmakers to its fold. One key approach reportedly involves offering automatic tickets to first-term governors for the 2027 elections.
"The decision is that all first-time governors will be given automatic tickets, and it's not just a ticket, the party will fight for such a governor to ensure his re-election," an anonymous source revealed. "So, most governors from the opposition parties who are not sure of their victory are joining our party."
The source cited examples of governors from Akwa Ibom and Delta states who allegedly defected to the APC due to concerns about their re-election prospects if they remained in opposition parties.
Coalition Challenges
Despite the momentum, the proposed coalition faces several challenges, particularly regarding which political party will serve as its platform. Reports suggest the ADC may have been chosen, with the party allegedly amending its constitution to accommodate high-profile defectors. However, this has reportedly sparked resistance among some stakeholders unwilling to relinquish their positions to newcomers.
Adding to the confusion, Peter Obi recently stated in a viral video that he would contest the 2027 election on the Labour Party platform. However, the Labour Party's National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, told reporters that the party is not aware of any coalition talks and has no plans to accommodate other political parties.
"We are contesting the election on solo, and we have said before that there would be no automatic ticket for anybody," Ifoh stated. "If Peter Obi chooses to contest via the party, he will follow due processes right from the primary election."
Regarding the possibility of Obi deputizing Atiku, Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, clarified: "What I know is that Peter Obi has not told anybody that he is going to be a vice presidential candidate. He stands to contest as a presidential candidate."
As coalition talks continue, political observers are closely watching how these dynamics will shape Nigeria's political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
