Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai Coalition Accuses PDP Governors of Supporting Tinubu’s 2027 Victory
A coalition consisting of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and other political figures has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors of paving the way for President Bola Tinubu to secure another term in the 2027 presidential election. The group claims that despite the PDP’s weaknesses, the governors rejected their proposal to form a united opposition against Tinubu.
Salihu Lukman, one of the coalition’s leaders, stated that the PDP governors were either knowingly or unknowingly splitting the opposition vote, inadvertently helping Tinubu’s chances of re-election. The coalition argues that the PDP governors are well aware that the party has become increasingly irrelevant, with the APC adopting many of the core values that once defined the PDP.
Despite the acknowledgement of the PDP’s weakened state, the PDP governors have rejected any collaboration with the coalition. They dismissed the idea of a merger or a unified opposition front in preparation for the 2027 election. Instead, they have decided to pursue independent strategies. The governors also announced plans to seek legal clarification from the Supreme Court over the constitutional issues related to the state of emergency in Rivers State.
Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai have been vocal about the importance of a unified opposition to effectively challenge Tinubu’s administration. However, the rejection of the coalition’s proposals by the PDP governors has created significant obstacles in their path. With no unified opposition, the fragmented votes could enable Tinubu to retain power in 2027.
The situation is further complicated by the differing strategies of major opposition parties, including the PDP, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). These parties are pursuing separate plans, which only further divide the opposition and make it harder to present a viable alternative to the APC.
Speculation also surrounds Nasir El-Rufai’s role within the coalition, with some suggesting that he may act as a placeholder for Atiku should the PDP deny him the presidential ticket. This has added to the uncertainty surrounding the opposition’s strategy and has created tensions within the coalition.
With the 2027 election fast approaching, the opposition’s efforts to challenge Tinubu face mounting challenges. Divisions within the opposition and the refusal of the PDP governors to cooperate make it increasingly difficult to form a united front capable of posing a real challenge to the APC.
