President Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has confidently declared that a potential coalition between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party's Peter Obi would pose no significant threat to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television's Prime Time on Thursday, Onanuga dismissed speculation about opposition realignment, stating that such political maneuvers were premature and unlikely to succeed against the Tinubu administration.
"They are jumping the gun, it's not yet time for politicking as they are doing," Onanuga remarked. "The alliance or merger we had in 2013 was not like these people are making it look. It didn't give much distraction to the government in power."
The presidential aide further emphasized that the current political climate does not warrant such coalition talks. "The way they are doing it is as if INEC has blown the whistle for party politics to start, but it's not so," he added.
While acknowledging the opposition's right to form alliances in a democratic setting, Onanuga expressed confidence in the APC's electoral prospects. "Even if you merge Peter Obi and Atiku together, there is no way the two of them can beat a Bola Tinubu and Shettima ticket; it is not going to be possible," he stated categorically.
The comments come amid growing speculation about potential realignments among opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections, with some political observers suggesting that only a united opposition could challenge the ruling party's dominance.
However, the Presidency's dismissal of such coalition talks indicates confidence in President Tinubu's performance and electoral prospects for a second term, despite the economic challenges that have characterized his first term in office.
Political analysts note that while it may be early for formal coalition arrangements, the opposition's strategic positioning nearly three years before the next presidential election suggests recognition of the need for early preparation to mount a credible challenge against the incumbent.
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