Nigeria’s political landscape is witnessing a significant shift as two prominent opposition leaders, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, have joined forces to challenge President Bola Tinubu and his ruling party in the 2027 election.
The duo has defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party that aims to provide a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The decision to form an alliance comes after the 2023 election, where Tinubu won with just 37% of the vote, while Abubakar and Obi garnered 29% and 25%, respectively. Analysts believe that the opposition’s divided vote contributed to Tinubu’s victory.
According to David Mark, interim chairman of the ADC, the party’s formation is an attempt to “save the country’s democracy and stop Nigeria from becoming a one-party state.”
The coalition boasts an impressive lineup, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra governor Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and former Tinubu ally Nasir El-Rufai.
Analysts are divided on the coalition’s chances in 2027. Ben Kenneth believes that the alliance has a better chance of defeating Tinubu than last time, stating, “If you look at what Atiku and Obi got in the last election, it’s clear to see that they would’ve won assuming they worked together.”
However, Sani Hamisu disagrees, saying, “In Nigeria and Africa, when a leader is in office seeking a second term, he hardly loses, it is very rare.”
The ruling APC remains unfazed, with acting chairman Ali Bukar Dalori dismissing the coalition as no threat.
The PDP and Labour Party have also distanced themselves from the coalition, with the PDP opting to face the APC alone and the Labour Party urging its supporters to remain loyal.
Key figures in the ADC include:
•Atiku Abubakar (former Vice-President)
•Peter Obi (former Anambra governor)
•David Mark (former Senate President)
• Nasir El-Rufai (former Tinubu ally)
•Rotimi Amaechi (former minister)
Will this coalition change the dynamics of Nigeria’s politics? Only time will tell.
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