Television Nigerian

Former presidential political adviser Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has discussed the difficulties Nigeria’s opposition faces in forming a coalition to take on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the run-up to the 2027 elections.

Baba-Ahmed clarified in an interview that there might be significant obstacles to the coalition’s attempt to form a new party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA). Because it includes well-known politicians, he pointed out, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is unlikely to single out this application because it hasn’t registered any new parties in years. He said that if INEC gave the ADA’s registration priority, it would run the danger of coming seen as biased.

Baba-Ahmed underlined that significant progress is being impeded by a lack of internal trust, conflicting goals, and the incorrect people leading the opposition. He said:

“We don’t have mutual trust. The main players are not united. This attempt to create an alternative to the APC is being led by the wrong individuals. Instead of re-elected politicians, Nigerians prefer leadership that is credible, new, and visionary.

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Baba-Ahmed explained his departure from government employment by saying:

“I entered with the intention of fixing the nation, but I ended up having nothing worthwhile to do. Technocratic counsel did not sit well with the administration. I decided to go rather than do nothing.

He called for a generational change and the involvement of young, vibrant Nigerians with new ideas, emphasizing that the opposition must rise above personal ambition. Baba-Ahmed cautioned:

“Without a genuine alternative and credible leadership, the opposition risks handing over 2027 to Tinubu on a platter.”

Lastly, he refuted the idea that coalitions only form when a southerner holds political power, pointing to past coalitions that span Nigeria’s many regions.

As the political landscape in Nigeria heats up for the general election in 2027, focus is shifting to possible opponents who might unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is running for a second term. A number of seasoned politicians are reportedly putting themselves in the running for office due to the general public’s concern over governance and economic hardship.

The Nigerian’s analysis of seven notable individuals who might pose a significant threat is provided below:

Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku Abubakar, a well-known figure in Nigerian presidential politics, has run for president several times without winning. Atiku’s second-place result in the 2023 election may be complicated by internal PDP disagreements and calls for a southern power rotation.

Well done, Jonathan.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has enjoyed a rise in popularity after he left office in 2015. The PDP reportedly pushed him to run for president again in 2027. Though Jonathan has not disclosed his plans, political analysts think he might win over the north.

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Kwankwaso Rabiu Musa
The Kwankwasiyya movement’s leader and former Kano State governor is still well-known, especially in the north. He finished in a far-off fourth place during his 2023 campaign with the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). It is unknown what his next political move will be.

Saraki Bukola.
After serving two terms as governor of Kwara State and as president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki remains a prominent figure in Nigerian politics. He has not yet indicated any definite aspirations for 2027, despite finishing third in the PDP’s 2022 presidential primaries.

Peter Obio
With his outstanding success under the Labour Party, garnering more than 6 million votes, the former governor of Anambra State changed the political landscape of Nigeria in 2023. Although Obi still has the backing of young people, observers are keeping an eye on him to see if he can maintain this momentum for another run.

The Nasir El-Rufai
In opposition circles, El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State, is still a powerful voice. He hasn’t declared his intention to run for president, but some think he might run for vice president or serve as a kingmaker in an opposition alliance.

The Amaechi Rotimi
Amaechi is viewed as a possible candidate due to his years of political experience as the former minister of transportation and governor of Rivers State. His next move is eagerly anticipated by onlookers.

Nigeria’s political environment is expected to see fierce alliances, conflicts, and maneuvering as the 2027 countdown draws near. It is unclear if President Tinubu will be able to overcome these obstacles or if a strong opponent will surface.

Former Sokoto State governor and current Sokoto North senator Aliyu Wamakko has categorically denied rumors that he is considering running for vice president in the run-up to the general elections in 2027.

According to the rumor, President Bola Tinubu may fire Vice President Kashim Shettima in favor of a new running mate as part of political realignments. Abdallah Shehu El-Kurebe, Wamakko’s spokesperson, however, called the claim “false, unauthorised, and politically mischievous” in a statement.

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According to the report, which was published online and attributed to Abdullahi Yerima, the chairman of the Kebbe Local Government, Wamakko’s purported vice presidential bid was supported. However, Wamakko denied the allegation, saying: “Senator Wamakko has never, either in private or publicly, indicated interest in running for vice president in the 2027 elections or in any kind of political arrangement of that kind. Such a claim is utterly unfounded, untrue, and extremely careless.

Wamakko emphasized that “opportunistic narratives concocted for selfish motives” would not divert him from his commitment to providing responsible leadership to the people of Sokoto State and Nigeria.

Concurrently, Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda has denied similar allegations that he is on the vice presidential ticket. According to Ibrahim Mohammed, his chief press secretary, Radda is still committed to carrying out his mandate in Katsina and called the reports “mere political permutations.”

Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has sharply criticized former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido for his comments on the annulled presidential election on June 12, 1993. In a recent television appearance, Lamido said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu backed the annulment of the election and that Tinubu’s mother, the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, led market women to Abuja to show support for the military rule. He also alleged that the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) was founded not to fight for June 12, but to support the late General Sani Abacha.

Alake responded by dismissing Lamido’s accusations as falsehoods and historical distortions. He accused Lamido, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) Secretary, of being complicit in undermining the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola’s mandate. According to Alake, Lamido and the then-SDP chairman sold out Abiola’s victory by agreeing to the formation of the National Interim Government (NIG) after the election was nullified.

Alake emphasized Tinubu’s role in the June 12 campaign, stating that Tinubu was essential in securing Abiola’s candidacy at the SDP Jos conference. He disclosed that Tinubu helped broker a deal that persuaded Atiku Abubakar to step down for Abiola, assuring MKO’s election as the party’s flagbearer.

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Alake described Lamido’s words as revisionist, saying, “Lamido’s claims are lies from the pit of hell.” He is attempting to conceal his personal involvement in the treachery of June 12.” He further stated that Tinubu’s mother was just pleading with Abacha to restore Abiola’s mandate.

Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, has stated his belief that President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be defeated in the general elections of 2027 by a group of well-known politicians.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Okonkwo disclosed that the alliance, which consists of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and other major figures, has the framework and plan to win.

Please be aware that I am a member of the coalition. I can tell you about this coalition’s engine room, which is not well known. When 2027 arrives, the APC won’t know what hit them,” Okonkwo stated.

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Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, has denied rumors that the coalition has submitted an application to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), a new political party, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Keyamo called the action “exaggerated and lacking in political weight” in a June 20, 2025, tweet. He maintained that no recognized political parties are participating in the purported merger, in contrast to the APC’s creation in 2013. He claims that the organization supporting ADA’s registration is made up of a small number of people exercising their constitutional rights; this is not the same as a formal coalition or party merger.