A growing opposition coalition spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is gaining significant momentum ahead of Nigeria's 2027 elections, with key figures including Labour Party's Peter Obi participating in consultative meetings despite uncertainty over his official stance.
The coalition, which emerged as the National Political Consultative Group (NPCG) North, recently held a high-profile meeting in Abuja that brought together prominent political figures including former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Kogi State Governor Idris Wada, former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, and former SGF Babachir Lawal.
Other notable attendees included former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, Labour Party's 2023 vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former Foreign Affairs Minister Aminu Wali, and former APC National Vice Chairman (North) Salihu Lukman.
Peter Obi's Ambiguous Position
While Obi has been actively participating in coalition meetings, his position remains somewhat ambiguous. The former Anambra State governor previously stated he would continue running under the Labour Party "for now," creating confusion about his political intentions.
The Labour Party has expressed displeasure with Obi's involvement in the coalition. National Publicity Secretary Obiorah Ifoh described Obi's participation as "an affront to the party's leadership" and "a total disregard to the party's right to make decisions binding its affairs."
"We have consistently said that the Labour Party will not go into any coalition or merger of any sort ahead of the 2027 general election," Ifoh stated, adding that the party's presidential ticket remains open to anyone interested in running on its platform.
Obidients Set Clear Conditions
Supporters of Peter Obi, known as the Obidient Movement, have set clear conditions for their participation in any coalition arrangement. Katchy Ononuju, former Special Adviser to Obi when he was Anambra governor, emphatically stated that the movement would not accept Obi being offered a vice-presidential position.
"The members of the Obidient Movement will not agree to work with Obi if he is not the presidential candidate on any ticket he runs on," Ononuju declared. "Having him around, him being quiet while you talk doesn't mean he's afraid – he has to answer to the people who follow him."
Ononuju described Obi as "the most popular politician in Africa" with a following that "has surpassed the Buhari followership," suggesting the coalition should leverage Obi's popularity rather than sidelining him.
Coalition's Political Vehicle
As the coalition continues to take shape, discussions are underway regarding which political party will serve as its vehicle. Ralph Okey Nwosu, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), indicated that talks about adopting his party as the coalition's platform would be concluded within one or two weeks.
Political analysts view the coalition as a strategic response to the wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has been working to consolidate support for President Bola Tinubu's potential re-election bid in 2027.
Activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam described Obi's involvement in the coalition as "a calculated political option" if he hopes to win the presidency. "With Peter Obi's alliance with the coalition, he will at least enjoy the umbrage of a likely winning team and would stand a chance at the Presidency, if not now but later," Idam noted.
As the 2027 elections approach, the coalition's ability to resolve internal differences, particularly regarding leadership positions and candidate selection, will likely determine its effectiveness in challenging the ruling party's dominance.
