Opposition Leaders Unite: Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai Target Tinubu in 2027 Race

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) will be the main coalition party to run against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, according to sources from the camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other influential political figures.
Speaking to Punch on condition of anonymity because they lacked formal authority, many people close to Atiku and Obi’s camps revealed that a meeting on Tuesday night was a major step in the coalition’s ongoing efforts.
The coalition leaders decided to make ADC the focal point of their political partnership during this meeting.

The sources also stated that in order to prepare for the 2027 election, ADC was already working to strengthen and reorganize, with formal announcements of the reforms anticipated in the days ahead.
Coalition leaders met Tuesday at 8 p.m. to finalize important decisions targeted at overthrowing President Tinubu in 2027, according to a statement released by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai during an event on Wednesday.

Restoring Tinubu to Lagos by the next general election is the coalition’s top priority, El-Rufai emphasized.

In an interview with Punch, ADC’s national chairman Ralph Nwosu also affirmed that the party is presently in coalition talks with Atiku, Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State, and other major leaders. Ahead of the 2027 election, these talks are a part of larger initiatives to fortify opposition unity.

Ajibola Basiru, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), denounced the opposition alliance in an interview with Punch, referring to President Tinubu as the “true father of all coalitions” in response to the coalition’s increasing traction.

Atiku, Obi, and other coalition leaders, Basiru said, are doomed to lose the 2027 election.

Read Also: Oloyede Defends Position, Slams Critics: ‘Truck Pushers Can’t Pilot Aircraft’

On March 20, Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, and other major figures made public the coalition’s establishment with the goal of running against President Tinubu in 2027.

There was a lot of discussion regarding the possibility of opposition unity after the announcement, with differing views on the coalition’s prospects and approach.

Given that both parties are considering the ADC as their coalition platform, a source told Punch on Tuesday that Peter Obi is conferring with his supporters to determine whether to accept Atiku’s offer of the vice presidential post.

“The coalition leaders from the Obi and Atiku camps met last night in Abuja to review all the issues and the major parties,” he said. Following their conversations, they decided that the ADC ought to serve as the primary platform for the alliance.

“They agreed to develop a plan for an alliance between ADC, SDP, and other platforms after ADC is announced as the main coalition platform in the coming days, even though some of the leaders, including El-Rufai and others, are already members of the Social Democratic Party.

I am aware that plans have been made to alter the party’s National Leadership and Board of Trustees, and that funds have already been set aside to restructure the ADC. In the days ahead, these modifications will be made public.

Nonetheless, they have selected the party as the main platform for coalition nationalists. They have informed their followers, who are getting ready to join the party and assist in its transformation.

The leaders of the coalition decided to guarantee a level playing field for all, irrespective of their geographical origin zone, according to another source.

“The camps got together last night and decided to use the ADC as their platform,” he said. There has been no definitive conclusion, despite the fact that the idea of a one-term presidency and a vice-presidential position is still being discussed.

Consequently, they decided that the ADC’s coalition efforts would guarantee fair competition for all players, particularly those vying for the presidency, irrespective of their geopolitical background.

The coalition’s goal is to overthrow President Tinubu and guarantee his return to Lagos in 2027, according to El-Rufai, who confirmed the meeting.

Details of the meeting will be released in the next few days, the former Kaduna State Governor said in a video uploaded on Wednesday to the 𝕏 account @AbdulRasheeth.

“At 8 p.m. yesterday, there was a very important meeting of the coalition we are building to ensure that President Tinubu returns to Lagos,” El-Rufai said, obviously outlining the challenges he faced before being able to attend the Katsina gathering.

I had to go to that meeting at 8 p.m., even though we will give more updates later.

Speaking with Punch about the development, the ADC National Chairman said that party chieftains tasked with the assignment had been engaging in talks with other coalition leaders, but he denied knowing about the meeting yesterday.

According to Nwosu, the ADC has been in discussions with Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and others. He expressed confidence that they can effectively save Nigeria if they all work together.

“I am aware of the meeting that ADC chieftains are attending with some coalition leaders,” said the National Chairman of the ADC. Not only before this election, but for many years, ADC has participated in different coalition talks.

However, we are in communication with political parties, patriots, and other interested parties regarding this election. In only a few days, rather than months, the public will be informed of the conclusion of our conversations.

We established a committee for this aim in our capacity as National Chairman. All patriots interested in saving this nation are being contacted by our committees. We’re not just talking to Atiku, I can assure you. In addition, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, and numerous more are being involved.

We are having conversations with ardent patriots and leaders of political parties. We think we can deliver this nation if they all cooperate.

When asked if Atiku, Obi, and other coalition leaders wanted him and Mani Ibrahim, the chairman of the board of trustees, to resign in order to restructure the ADC, Nwosu brushed the assertion away as conjecture.

He did, however, stress that they are prepared to give up anything in order to aid in the rescue of Nigeria.

“That is conjecture,” he replied. However, I can guarantee you that we are totally dedicated to saving the country and prepared to give up everything, including ourselves. We are prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to advance this nation.

“There are more than one or two parties involved in this national rescue discussion. It is occurring among important groupings, civil society organizations, and political parties.

“ADC is prepared to provide any assistance required to make this happen. The party for a rescue effort has been assembled.

In an interview with Punch, Atiku’s media assistant Paul Ibe discussed the coalition, saying that leaders and political parties from different backgrounds are taking part.

“To be really honest with you, I am not aware of that,” he stated. I can’t talk about something I don’t know. I do know that we are negotiating with political parties and patriots to save Nigeria.

There are no exceptions to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s assertion that all party leaders and stakeholders are a part of this coalition. As of yet, no final decision has been made.

As for the political platform, we’re making progress and will shortly update the public. A pan-Nigerian movement is behind these coalition efforts. Everyone who believes in the goal of rebuilding and reclaiming the nation will be able to locate housing.

We are there. This coalition is dedicated to fulfilling its mandate to restore Nigeria.

Peter Ahmehn, the National Secretary of Coalition for United Political Parties, said that Obi and his followers are still Labour Party members.

“I know the coalition drive is still going on,” he remarked. However, I do not currently have access to such information regarding yesterday’s meeting.

As I previously stated, Mr. Peter Obi, myself, and the other members of our team are dedicated to the Labour Party. Since we belong to the Labour Party, our purpose is to support and advance its ideologies.

Nigerians will soon receive updates on the coalition’s development, according to CUPP National Publicity Secretary Mark Adebayo.

Adebayo made it clear in an interview with Punch that Atiku, Obi, and other coalition leaders are dedicated to saving Nigeria from President Tinubu’s failing APC government.

“What I can tell you is that we are in the midst of ongoing discussions, and they are at their height right now,” he said. Everything, including the platform, will soon be made known to Nigerians.

“The stakeholders and coalition leaders will not be sidetracked. Indeed, they are resolute and committed to cooperating to free Nigeria from President Tinubu’s failing APC regime.

“Any information you require about the coalition movement will be released shortly. Although we are aware that Nigerians are fed up with the APC and want to hear from us, we promise to update the country soon.

In a reaction to the coalition’s decision, APC National Secretary Basiru said in an exclusive interview with Punch that the former vice president and other opposition leaders will lose again in 2027 because their coalition is not led by the interests of Nigerians.

“They are not forming any coalition, and if they do, President Tinubu is the grandmaster of coalitions,” he said. He is a leader in the National Democratic Coalition, which served as the cradle of alliances that assisted in overthrowing the military.

So, how can they take on the grandmaster of coalitions using a coalition? Additionally, our party has a lot of experience creating coalitions.

“A congress composed of major political parties was formed by us first. Nigerians need to be informed that the falsehoods they spread about winning the 2023 election are now being exposed.

Predicting that the alliance leaders would lose the 2027 election, Basiru counseled Atiku, Obi, and others to rejoin their parties.

The National Secretary of the APC said, “Why are they discussing a coalition for 2027 if they really think they won the 2023 election? They ought to simply rejoin their political parties.

However, the fact is that they lost the 2023 election, and with God’s help, they will also lose the 2027 election, with President Tinubu of the APC emerging victorious.

“This so-called coalition or arrangement is motivated more by excessive ambition and a sense of entitlement than by love for Nigeria.”