Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has openly described himself and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as "conspirators" united against President Bola Tinubu's administration.

Speaking at an event marking Amaechi's 60th birthday celebration in Abuja, Atiku accused the current administration of "weaponizing poverty" in Nigeria and vowed that their alliance would work to end such policies.

"You may call me a conspirator or anything, but that is why we are in this alliance, to make sure we don't allow them to continue their weaponizing policies," Atiku stated during the celebration.

The former Vice President specifically identified Amaechi as a key figure in their opposition movement, saying: "One of our star conspirators is Rotimi Amaechi. Therefore, we are here to wish you many happy returns, and we will continue to conspire with you to minimize poverty and ensure that state machinery is not used to weaponize it."

Growing Opposition Coalition

Atiku and Amaechi are reportedly part of a broader opposition coalition that includes former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and other political stakeholders. According to sources, this alliance aims to challenge Tinubu's leadership in the upcoming 2027 presidential elections.

The coalition has been gaining momentum in recent weeks, with leaders reportedly meeting to finalize strategies and organizational structures. This public acknowledgment by Atiku confirms earlier reports about the formation of a unified opposition front against the current administration.

Amaechi, who previously served as Minister of Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been increasingly vocal in his criticism of the current administration. In recent statements, he has expressed concerns about hunger in the country and suggested that opposition forces could remove Tinubu from power.

The public alignment of these former political rivals signals a significant realignment in Nigerian politics as the country moves toward the midpoint of Tinubu's first term in office.

Neither the presidency nor representatives of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have issued official responses to Atiku's remarks as of the time of this report.