Atiku, Peter Obi, Amaechi, and Others Form Coalition to Challenge Tinubu in 2027

A coalition of opposition leaders has been announced by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the goal of running against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
In response to inquiries from the media during a press conference on Thursday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Atiku reportedly verified the development. The announcement comes after growing debate over the need for a unified opposition to overthrow the existing government.
On March 8, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate reiterated his resolve to bringing opposition forces together in order to overthrow the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he has long argued for.
After El-Rufai switched from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on March 10, which sparked additional discussion among opposition leaders, the momentum for such an alliance grew stronger.

“Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027,” Atiku stated during his remarks at the conference.

Atiku’s remarks were echoed by Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, who emphasized that the coalition’s main goal was the emancipation and empowerment of the Nigerian people. Obi clarified that the alliance would deal with the country’s pressing governance problems through Yunusa Tanko, the Obidient Movement’s Interim National Coordinator.

“Yes, His Excellency Peter Obi and the former Vice President are working together on this,” Tanko said in an interview with The PUNCH. The concept of plans for an opposition discussion is crucial. There is no question about it—even the former governor of Anambra State has stated it before—that we must cooperate as a team.

The only thing he emphasized, he added, was that it must be founded on a plan to free the Nigerian people, which is precisely what we have just begun.

Noting, “Our democracy has been attacked morally, with indignity and a level of disdain,” Tanko further denounced recent political acts. That specific statement against the Rivers State government demonstrated just that, and as Democrats, we will not tolerate such an absurd display of power and intolerance for the Nigerian people anymore.

He continued by listing the concerns that the alliance would prioritize, such as security, electricity supply, and the declining quality of Nigeria’s educational system. Tanko went on, “This will all be issue-based.”

“It will be announced,” he said in response to a question concerning the coalition’s party affiliation.

The Convener of The Alternative, Segun Showunmi; Peter Ameh, National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties; and Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, were among the other opposition figures who attended the press conference. Although they were not present, former APC governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and former National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu also endorsed the coalition.

In an interview, Peter Ameh stated that although no decisions had been made regarding the coalition’s name or program, coalition talks had accelerated significantly.

The press conference marks the coalition’s formation, as the former vice president stated. We will keep talking to political parties and leaders, and the conversations have gotten more heated,” Ameh said.

“As of right now, we haven’t decided on the coalition’s name or platform,” he continued. But there are still debates about both. Once we come to an agreement and conclusion, it will be made public.

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In his remarks regarding the alliance, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor counseled party leaders to maintain their flexibility. “The removal of the APC from power in 2027 is in the best interests of the PDP and Nigeria overall,” Osadolor stated.

He went on, “Well, I would advise the PDP leaders to avoid being very stiff or static. Since they are the older brother of all the other opposition parties in this nation, they should likewise learn to be adaptable and tolerant.

Osadolor underlined that all Nigerians would gain if the partnership was successful. As a result, they ought to be able to compromise and make the alliance a key talking topic. “This government should be thrown into the trash can of history for the benefit of the PDP and all Nigerians,” he said.