Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have reportedly concluded months of high-level negotiations to forge a united opposition coalition ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
According to reliable sources, the three political heavyweights reached an agreement on Tuesday to rally their efforts under one political platform, setting aside past rivalries to mount a formidable challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The coalition is expected to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform, Bloomberg reported, though the alliance has not been formally announced. The decision follows months of speculation and behind-the-scenes talks aimed at consolidating opposition forces that were fragmented during the 2023 election.
Political analysts argue that the lack of unity among opposition candidates in 2023 contributed significantly to Tinubu's victory. While Tinubu secured 8.7 million votes, the combined tally of Atiku and Obi far surpassed that figure, making a case for a united front in 2027.
Speaking recently at a press briefing, the Chairman of ADC’s Board of Trustees, Mani Ahmed, stated:
“I can categorically inform you that the African Democratic Congress is the coalition party in Nigeria. What remains is merely dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”
While spokespeople for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) confirmed their respective candidates’ involvement in coalition talks, they clarified that there are no current discussions about merging the two parties outright. The Social Democratic Party (SDP), which El-Rufai is reportedly aligned with, declined to comment on the matter.
Despite this major development, the coalition faces a significant hurdle: deciding who will lead the ticket in 2027. Nigeria’s informal power-sharing tradition between the North and South could complicate matters, as Atiku—a northerner—may face resistance from southern voters who heavily supported Obi
