Fresh cracks have emerged within the opposition coalition seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, following unresolved disagreements among key promoters over the choice of a political party platform and their individual presidential ambitions.
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According to a report by THISDAY, the group—comprising prominent political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi, and former Minister of Transportation Mr. Rotimi Amaechi—failed to reach a consensus during its planned May 30 meeting due to deepening rifts over competing interests.
Sources privy to the development disclosed that the coalition is divided over whether to adopt an existing political party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), or to register a new one, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
While Atiku, alongside former governors John Odigie-Oyegun (Edo), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), is reportedly pushing for the adoption of ADC, Amaechi and the League of Northern Democrats (LND) are rooting for the creation of ADA.
However, the overriding concern remains the unresolved issue of who will fly the coalition’s presidential flag. The ambitions of Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi are said to be the primary stumbling blocks to the coalition’s progress.
A source revealed that an attempt by Atiku’s camp to pair him with Peter Obi as a running mate in 2027 was rebuffed, largely due to growing sentiment across the country that the presidency should remain in the South to complete the North-South rotation.
With Peter Obi firmly rooted in the Labour Party for now, and his South-eastern base unlikely to support any alliance seen to undermine his presidential ambition, Atiku’s camp has struggled to find an acceptable running mate from the region. Figures like Emeka Ihedioha and Osita Chidoka are said to be cautious, wary of the political backlash of appearing to oppose Obi.
Meanwhile, Amaechi’s perceived lack of national momentum has reportedly made him a less viable running mate option in the eyes of Atiku’s strategists.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is also said to have taken a backseat, overwhelmed by pressure from Southern leaders and interest groups insisting that the next president must come from the South.
Political insiders believe a breakthrough might only be possible if Atiku drops his ambition and supports Obi with a Northern running mate—names such as Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, or Senator Aminu Tambuwal have been floated.
Reacting to the swirling permutations, Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, dismissed claims of premature jostling for the 2027 ticket, saying: “We are at the foundation level of the coalition. This is like building a house—we want a solid foundation first. There is no need to jump the gun.”
A spokesperson for Obi, who spoke off the record, also downplayed the speculations: “Obi is a member of the Labour Party, at least for now. He is also involved in the coalition. We are watching the developments and will speak when the time is right.”
However, Dr. Umar Ardo, convener of the League of Northern Democrats, acknowledged the internal tensions. “We are almost at a crossroads because of the hidden agenda of the political ambitions of our main promoters and their supporters. We hope to sort them out soon,” he said.
In a related development, founder and BoT chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has questioned the credibility of coalition talks spearheaded by former candidates without party structures.
“There is no individual candidacy in Nigeria. It is the political parties that determine their flag bearers. Coalition talks cannot be valid without party leadership,” Aniebonam said.
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