A new opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially started in Nigeria. Many people are watching closely to see if this group can grow stronger and become a real force by the 2027 elections.
This coalition began at a time when many politicians are leaving their parties to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). These moves aim to keep President Tinubu in power for the next term.
Despite many defections to the APC, the coalition has brought together important leaders, including Atiku, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Babachir Lawal, Nasir El-Rufai, and former Attorney General Abubakar Malami. Recently, they held a meeting in Abuja, showing they are serious about working together.
The group is now looking for a political party to officially back their coalition. Ralph Okey Nwosu, the chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the decision about the party support will be made within the next one or two weeks.
Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai are the main faces of the coalition. However, Peter Obi has said he will continue to run under the Labour Party “for now,” even as he stays involved in the coalition’s work.
The Labour Party is unhappy about Obi’s involvement with the coalition. The party’s leaders say Obi’s actions confuse them because he has said he will run under Labour Party but is meeting with other coalition members without their permission. The Labour Party insists it will not join any coalition before the 2027 election.
A former adviser to Obi, Katchy Ononuju, believes the coalition could be strong enough to challenge Tinubu if the group avoids past mistakes that split the opposition. He said the opposition broke apart because leaders did not respect zoning rules, which led southern leaders like Obi to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ononuju believes if the coalition supports a popular southern leader, it could force President Tinubu to be more inclusive and fair in his appointments and policies.
The Obidient Movement, which supports Obi, says Obi should only run as a presidential candidate, not as a vice-presidential candidate. They say Obi has strong public support and momentum and should lead the opposition ticket.
Political activist Maduabuchi Idam says Obi’s decision to join the coalition is a smart move. Alone, Obi faces big challenges because the current government will try to block his chances. But with the coalition’s help, Obi has a better chance to win the presidency now or in the future.
This new coalition and the Obidient Movement bring fresh hope for Nigeria’s 2027 elections. Many Nigerians are watching to see if they can unite to offer a strong alternative to the ruling party.
