Efforts to form a formidable opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections have hit a stumbling block, as the ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a dispute over zoning threaten to derail negotiations.
Sources close to the discussions revealed that the camps of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, are pushing for power to remain in the South for another eight years. However, Atiku’s allies are advocating for the former vice president to contest again, creating tension within the coalition.
On Thursday, Atiku, Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai formally announced their alliance to challenge Tinubu’s administration. Other key figures involved include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh.
Despite the announcement, the coalition remains fragile, with several major figures, including Amaechi, former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, and ex-APC chairman Abdullahi Adamu, absent from the meeting.
A source involved in the negotiations disclosed that the uncertainty surrounding Atiku’s 2027 ambitions has made southern political leaders hesitant to fully commit to the coalition.
“The zoning issue is a major stumbling block,” the source said. “Obi and Amaechi’s camps want power to remain in the South, while Atiku’s camp is pushing for another shot at the presidency. If Atiku runs, it could undermine southern candidates, and many stakeholders are cautious about committing before his stance is clear.”
Confirming this, Peter Ahmeh, a close ally of Obi, insisted that the coalition should field a southern candidate to respect the unwritten agreement of power rotation between the North and South.
“We must honor the agreement that power rotates every eight years. The best option is for a southern candidate to lead the coalition and challenge Tinubu,” Ahmeh stated.
Not all coalition members agree on zoning. Buba Galadima, a leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and an ally of Rabiu Kwankwaso, dismissed the idea of a North-South power-sharing arrangement, insisting that the focus should be on free and fair elections.
Similarly, Timothy Osadolor, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, argued that the coalition’s ticket should be open to all Nigerians, stating that President Tinubu’s economic policies had hurt the country and that merit should take precedence over zoning.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the coalition as a weak alliance doomed to fail. APC’s Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, accused Atiku of prioritizing his personal ambition over national interest.
“Atiku is not a democrat; he is just a contestant focused on himself. This coalition is built on a weak foundation, and like previous failed attempts, it will collapse,” Ibrahim said.
In response, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, fired back, stating that if the APC had delivered good governance, there would be no need for a coalition.
“The APC is failing Nigerians. Instead of fixing the economy, they are busy suppressing opposition voices and creating instability,” Ibe said. “The coalition is focused on rescuing Nigeria, not personal ambition.”
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the opposition faces a tough challenge—resolving internal disputes and presenting a united front against the ruling APC. Whether they can overcome their differences remains to be seen.
