As momentum builds ahead of the 2027 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed it has received 91 applications for the registration of new political parties.

The Peoples Democratic Party stated that the number of applications received by INEC reflected a lack of unity among opposition leaders, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party called it a testament to the incompetence of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The Labour Party, however, welcomed the development but called on INEC to carefully review all applications before proceeding with registration.

But the All Progressives Congress claimed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was behind the move, asserting that it would come to nothing as the party was confident of winning the 2027 elections.

The announcement was made amid accusations from opposition groups, who alleged that INEC was intentionally obstructing the registration of new political parties in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

A key figure in the opposition coalition and former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress for the North-West, Salihu Lukman, said registered political parties, which did not meet the electoral threshold by winning a seat in the previous general elections, are at risk of being deregistered.

In his statement, Lukman emphasised that, “The question of negotiating the political party is the most difficult challenge. This is an area that many members of the coalitions have been engaging in different ways for more than a year now.

“Perhaps, it is important to highlight that there are many groups, including some members of the coalition, who have filed applications to register political parties. For reasons best known to INEC, these applications are being frustrated.

“The only conclusion that can be reached in the circumstance is that INEC has decided that it will not register new parties.”

Recall that on March 20, 2025 presidential candidates  Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai announced the formation of a coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

In an exclusive interview with The TheNigerian on Wednesday, INEC’s Election and Parties Monitoring Department, through the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said no applications had been rejected.

In response to these accusations, INEC’s EPM department stated “No application was rejected. We have received 91 as of today.”

In his response, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, emphasized that opposition leaders do not need multiple political parties to remove the ruling APC, but rather a strong and united platform.

In an exclusive interview with The TheNigerian, Osadolor described the effort to register new political parties as unnecessary and wasteful.

He stated, “It shows a disconnect, a major disconnect among the opposition leaders and figures. The truth is this, you don’t need 500 political parties, you don’t even need 20, you don’t even need five, you don’t even need three to defeat APC. All you need is one formidable opposition party to challenge the power and empower those who can run the country.

“For me, having 91 applications means that in the end, INEC may end up with 40, or whatever the case may be. But again, does that solve our problem? It does not. And if it does not solve our problem, why waste our time over it? So I think it’s highly unnecessary.

“What they should do right now is focus more on how to harmonize. And have a much more formidable platform, wherein the chance of victory will be more assured than in this current division.

“There is need for INEC to look at the figures and characters behind them. Some just want to be on the ballot without even knowing why they are on the ballot. Others genuinely want the best for Nigeria but lack the structure and technical know-how to go about it. All of these energies being put into having minority political parties or having incompetent people in political parties is unnecessary.

“The genuine official figures should sit down first and square out with each other, look at each other, and tell each other some hard truth. What do we really want? Do we want to be known as official figures, or do we want to be known as martyrs for democracy in Nigeria? Or do we want to be those who brought progressive change to Nigerians? Once they answer these questions, the next major question should be ‘how do we go about it? Do we need three platforms, four, five?’ So, the opposition leaders need to seat and address all these and not registering more parties.”

The NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, who called it an indictment of the APC, referred to it as an advantage for the coalition.

In an exclusive interview with The TheNigerian, Johnson stated that the NNPP seeks greater participation from Nigerians in the process.

He stated, “No we are not threatened, not really, because we welcome more participation by Nigerians. We want more Nigerians to participate in the process. We believe that those who have decided to form new parties, or who are attempting to, when they get to the field, as it were, might be even more encouraged to come together with some of us existing parties.

“So, it’s something we understand. But once there is more participation, we appreciate it. It’s good. I don’t think it will divide the opposition parties more. By and large, a lot of it would be people who are trying to come together, who have seen that there is a need for us all to come together to try to bring about an alternative to what the APC is doing.

“In the long run, yes. More people want to participate. The fact that you have more parties coming should be seen not just as an indictment on the political class now, but more of an indictment on the ruling party, the APC.

“It shows the level of awareness that has been generated by their ineptitude and the way they have misruled the country so far.”

LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stated that it is the right of any group wishing to transition into a political party to submit a request to INEC.

Ifoh disclosed to our correspondent that the registration of new political parties does not pose a threat to the existing ones.

He stated, “It is the duty of INEC to receive a letter of interest from aspiring political associations, and they do not have the right to stop people from submitting their letters. It is part of their responsibility to assess those applications and determine whether they are qualified before they can become political parties.

“This is democracy. We are advocating for an inclusive attitude toward the registration of political parties. So, if any of them qualifies, why not? At one point in time in Nigeria, we had almost 90-something political parties.

“It is within the rights of all those people who want to transition from political associations to political parties. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that, and it is not a threat to any political organization or party. There’s always this saying: the more, the merrier.

“The registration of political parties is the right of INEC, and any organisation that qualifies should be registered. It is not a threat to any political party, whether the ruling party or the opposition.”

On his part, the National Spokesperson for the Coalition of United Political Parties, Mark Adebayo, argued that restricting the number of political parties would be detrimental to democracy.

According to him, in a true multiparty democracy, the electoral management body should not have the authority to limit the registration of political parties.

He emphasised that in countries like the UK and the US, there were hundreds of registered political parties, though only a few dominate the political scene.

He noted that a broader political landscape with more parties would strengthen the opposition and create a formidable challenge to the ruling party.

“The fewer the political parties, the fewer the chances of opposition forces coming together to challenge the status quo,” he said.

“If more political parties are registered, they can form coalitions to contest against the APC, just like APC itself was an amalgamation of smaller parties that ousted the PDP in 2015.”

Alluding to the fact that leading opposition parties  appears fragmented, Adebayo  stressed that if more parties with strong regional bases emerged, they could unite to pose a serious challenge in the 2027 elections.

He warned that failing to register new parties could play into the hands of the ruling party, which might be attempting to engineer a de facto one-party system by eliminating competition.

“If they refuse to register new parties, it only strengthens the ruling party’s grip on power,” he stated.

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Rufus Aiyenigba, said, “We are in a democracy. The more the merrier. What we are concerned about is for us to sanitise the electoral system. The numbers of parties don’t really matter, there was a time we had 100 and presently we have 19 and we still have issues it is not necessarily the numbers of parties but the commitment to the democratic ideas.”

APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, stated that the effort to register new political parties is being driven by unsuccessful politicians looking to maintain their relevance.

In an exclusive interview with The TheNigerian, Ibrahim remarked that even if Atiku attempts to register multiple parties under different identities, it will ultimately result in failure.

He stated “You see, there is a relevance of irrelevance. When people try and fail, sometimes, in order to remain afloat, they give the impression that they are still capable of running, but in reality, they cannot run because they have been tested and found untrustworthy. These parties that they are trying to register, they are doing so in anticipation of getting something from the Federalgovernment, unknown to them, that no longer exists.

“The time when parties were funded by the government or given money to run their affairs without being relevant or in a position to add value to the political structure is over.

“You see, Atiku Abubakar, in Nigerian politics, with all due respect, has won only one election in his lifetime, but since then, he has lost more than six elections. He is a serial loser, a perpetual contestant, and a perpetual loser who cannot give the APC, which is increasing in strength, increasing in acceptance, and increasing in support, a sleepless night. There is just no way. So even if he decides to register more political parties in disguise, it’s just going to be movement without any change in position. So, APC is not threatened by the number of applications recipients by INEC.”

Supporters of President Bola Tinubu, under the aegis of National Coalition for Asiwaju Mandate (NCAM), have condemned the formation of a coalition by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other prominent opposition figures.

DAILY POST reported the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, on 20th March 2025, announced the formation of a coalition of opposition political figures to unseat Tinubu in 2027.

Atiku announced the coalition at a joint press conference by ‘concerned leaders and political stakeholders in Nigeria on the unconstitutional declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State’.

Besides Atiku, other politicians championing the coalition include former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and a former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Salihu Lukman.

However, in a statement released in Abuja on Thursday, the National Coalition for Asiwaju Mandate (NCAM) described the coalition as “people against Nigeria”.

National President of NCAM, Isaac Ikpa, who addressed journalists, criticised the coalition as a gathering of expired political relics and “political has-beens” driven by selfish ambition rather than a genuine desire to serve the nation.

Tinubu’s supporters accused Atiku, Peter Obi and El-Rufai of having a history of failed leadership, corruption, and divisive politics, adding that the coalition’s true intention is to hijack power for personal enrichment rather than national progress.

They urged Nigerians to reject the coalition’s “desperate attempt” to cling to power and instead support Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to NCAM, Tinubu has a proven track record of excellence, visionary leadership, and commitment to Nigeria’s progress, unlike the members of the coalition.

“We want Nigerians to understand that this so-called coalition unveiled by Atiku Abubakar is nothing more than a gathering of politicians seeking relevance.

“It is nothing more than a laughable attempt by individuals who have repeatedly failed the Nigerian people to rehabilitate their tarnished reputations.

“These are individuals with no vision, credibility, and have no business dictating the future of Nigeria. Their records have proven their inability to deliver good governance to the people of Nigeria.

“This coalition is doomed to fail because it is built on hypocrisy, deceit and personal ambition, rather than genuine concern for Nigeria’s progress.

“We, the National Coalition for Asiwaju Mandate (NCAM), stand firmly behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda. We call on all Nigerians to reject this desperate attempt by expired politicians to cling to power.

“We must not allow these individuals to derail the progress that Nigeria has made under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We must not give room for failed politicians to drag Nigeria backward into the abyss of corruption and bad governance.

“The future of our nation is at stake, and we must stand firm in our commitment to protect good governance, transformative leadership, and the progress of Nigeria,” the statement said.

The recently reinstated National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party and ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has called for party unity, stating that the internal crisis within the PDP has been resolved.

In an exclusive interview with The TheNigerian on Monday, Anyanwu urged party members to focus on strengthening the PDP, and advised those currently involved in coalition negotiations for the 2027 elections to reconsider their action and join hands to rebuild and strengthen the PDP.

Anyanwu’s call comes in the wake of last week’s declaration of a coalition by the 2023 presidential candidates, including Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Anyanwu, who claimed to be unaware of the coalition led by Atiku, encouraged PDP members to remain dedicated to the party.

According to him, the PDP remains a strong party at all levels despite the internal conflicts it has faced before and after the 2023 elections, which have caused instability and divisions within the party.

Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has been criticised, especially after replacing Iyorchia Ayu.

Tensions heightened over the National Secretary position when the South-East nominated former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, to replace Anyanwu, who had been nominated for the Imo governorship race in 2023.

The dispute reached the courts in December 2024, where the Appeal Court in Enugu ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye as PDP National Secretary. However, after months of party unrest, the Supreme Court overturned the Appeal Court decision on Friday, reinstating Anyanwu as the party’s Secretary.

In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court stated that issues relating to the leadership or membership of a political party are internal matters and should not be handled by the courts.

Following the ruling, the PDP’s National Working Committee issued a statement affirming that Ude-Okoye’s appointment had been overridden by the Supreme Court decision and that the party must address leadership issues internally.

Responding to the ruling, Anyanwu expressed relief, stating that the Supreme Court’s decision had ended the major crisis within the PDP.

He acknowledged the emotional toll the conflict had taken on him but expressed optimism about moving forward.

“From the Supreme Court, which is the highest court, I am the National Secretary of the PDP. I hold no grudges against anyone. We have only a few months left, so all we need to do now is work together and reposition the party,” Anyanwu said.

He added, “Although I have been bruised and have experienced a lot of emotional stress, I endure it all. Now is the time for us to unite and reposition the PDP. There is also an urgent need for an important NWC meeting where we can face each other, speak the truth, and apologize where necessary.”

When asked about the NWC’s stance, Anyanwu stated, “The NWC hasn’t met yet; some members are unavailable. I have resumed, and we will have a meeting soon.”

Anyanwu also reaffirmed that the PDP is not involved in any coalition and urged those advocating for a coalition to remove President Bola Tinubu to instead join the PDP.

“The PDP is not part of any coalition; we have not been invited to any coalition meetings. In fact, we have not had any discussions about a coalition. The PDP remains strong at the local, ward, and state levels. As far as I am concerned, those talking about a coalition should join the PDP. The crisis is over, so people should move into the PDP rather than PDP joining any coalition,” he stated.

When contacted, members of the National Executive Committee, who requested to remain anonymous, and PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, called for reconciliation within the NWC.

Both emphasised that the PDP’s leadership must now focus on unity and strengthening the party.

One NEC source said, “For me, it was an unnecessary fight in the first place. However, now that the apex court has ruled, all well-meaning leaders of the party, such as the Governors, members of the BoT, and other stakeholders, should rally behind the NWC. I know some people are still angry within the NWC, but we must let this go for the party to survive. If we continue to fight like this, the image of the party will suffer.”

Osadolor added, “I know that the PDP Governors Forum, the BoT, and the opposition in Nigeria have their opinions on what is right and wrong. Only God and extraterrestrial beings can fully determine that. They are, to some extent, also involved in these matters. The Supreme Court has ruled, so it is time for all of us in the PDP, regardless of our position, to start mending our differences. I believe we are going to make decisions. The way forward is reconciliation, and healing is an essential part of that.”

Osadolor further emphasised, “Going forward, we want the Governors Forum, the BoT, the NWC, and especially Samuel Anyanwu to help resolve any grey areas. Now that the situation is clear, no one should fight it. We can heal and recover. It should not be seen as a case of victor and vanquished. We are all one family, so let’s embrace the future and move on.”

The recently formed broad-based coalition of opposition leaders said its main hurdle has been finding an alternative political party, stating that it was on the verge of reaching a final consensus on its structure and modus operandi ahead of the 2027 general election.

The coalition explained that while some individuals were raising the issue of zoning, the matter had not been formally discussed at its meetings.

It reiterated that at this stage of negotiations, the main focus is on getting leaders to agree to work together, noting that there is strong recognition that prospective members should set aside personal ambitions to contest the 2027 elections.

The coalition made this known in a statement issued Monday in Abuja by a former National Vice Chairman (Northwest) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman.

It could be recalled that last Thursday, some opposition leaders held a news conference in Abuja and opposed the presidential declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, adding that the group would work as a coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Those at the forefront of the coalition are said to include former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi; former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai; and Tinubu’s estranged ally and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.

They are reportedly joined in the coalition by some aggrieved elements of the APC, including a former Governor of Nasarawa State and former National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; former Rivers State Governor and ex-Transport Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; and former Ekiti State Governor and ex-Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi.

Lukman noted that while responding to a question during the press conference, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar confirmed that the formation of a coalition ahead of the 2027 general election was ongoing.

According to Lukman, this has generated wide interest and national debates with varied interpretations.

He said that in order to set the record straight, it was important to state that negotiations are ongoing and nothing has been finalized.

“Once concluded, formal announcements will be made with all the details regarding the composition of membership, programme of action towards 2027, and framework for contesting the 2027 elections,” he stated.

A former National Vice Chairman North-West of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman has said that the negotiation for a political coalition to challenge the ruling party has reached an advanced stage but not finalised yet.

According to report former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar had last week confirmed that there would be a political coalition to challenge the APC.

But Lukman in a statement issued on Monday said the speculation by some media analysts about disagreements stalemating the coalition negotiation was not true.

He noted that the concensus among leaders is that the final decision about processes of candidates’ selection can only be handled and determined when there is agreement regarding the political party on whose platform the coalition will field candidates.

Lukman said: “In order to set the records straight, it is important to state that negotiations are ongoing and nothing has been finalised.

“Once concluded formal announcement will be made with all the details regarding composition of membership, programme of action towards 2027, framework for contesting the 2027 elections, etc.

“Consultations are in advanced stages, basically reaching out to prospective members of the coalition, mapping out issues for agreements among members of the coalition.

“At this stage of negotiations, the main focus is around getting leaders to agree to work together and substantially there is strong recognition that prospective members should set aside personal ambitions to contest the 2027 elections.

“The second issue being negotiated is the political party that will be the platform for the 2027 electoral contest.

“These two issues are carefully being negotiated. While acknowledging that with respect to the requirement for members to set aside personal ambitions, there are strong interests being expressed around issues of zoning by individual leaders, these issues are yet to be formally discussed at any consultation meeting.”

As the move to form a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027 intensifies, Sunday TheNigerian has learnt that the ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and zoning dispute are stalling negotiations among political leaders.

A reliable source involved in the coalition discussions revealed that the camps of 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, were demanding that power should stay in the South for eight years.

The source revealed that the delay in negotiations was due to uncertainty surrounding whether Atiku would run.

According to him, the participants in the coalition drive, particularly from the South, were hesitant to fully engage in the discussions to avoid jeopardising their ambitions and zones.

Coalition moves unveiled

On Thursday, the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku; Labour Party’s Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, announced the formation of a coalition to oust President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

There had been a growing debate about whether opposition parties should unite to challenge President Tinubu’s administration. The discussion later gained momentum, as various political figures expressed differing views.

Atiku had consistently emphasised the need for unity among opposition parties.

In his comments on March 8, 2025 he revealed that he was actively working to unite opposition groups to form a coalition to remove the APC from power.

Following El-Rufai’s shift from the APC to the Social Democratic Party on March 10, discussions among opposition leaders gained momentum.

Atiku, along with other opposition figures, declared that the last Thursday gathering marked the official beginning of the coalition.

He said, “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.”

Other opposition leaders present at the press conference included a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh; and the Convenor of the Alternative, Segun Showunmi, among others.

Among those involved in the coalition, but whose apologies for absence were noted, were leaders from the ruling APC, including former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); and the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, among others.

Why talks stalled

Our source disclosed that negotiations were stalled because the key figures in the coalition discussions intended to run in the 2027 election.

He stated, “What I can tell you is that quite a lot of people are involved in the coalition. However, they fear zoning. You know that Obi and Amaechi are very much interested in replacing Tinubu, so their camps want power to remain in the South.

“Meanwhile, the Atiku camp is also pushing for the former Vice President to take another shot at the presidency in 2027. So, largely, the zoning issue and Atiku’s uncertain position on 2027 are stalling the negotiations.

“The southerners who want to replace Tinubu are afraid to get involved without knowing Atiku’s stance. If they get involved and, in the future, the coalition declares the race open to all, and Atiku grabs it like he did in 2019 and 2023 in the PDP, most of them would jeopardise their ambitions and potentially shortchange their region.

“This is why many are not participating openly or attending the meetings, like at the last press conference. So, that’s the situation. It’s one thing to agree on a coalition, as they have all agreed on the need for opposition political parties or their leaders to come together. But without clarifying whether they support another Southerner taking over from Tinubu (zoning), the discussion will remain unresolved. It may even give a few leaders reasons not to participate.”

Speaking on this, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, and a close ally of Obi confirmed the camp’s position, stating that stakeholders should support a Southern candidate to run in 2027.

In an interview with Sunday TheNigerian, Ahmeh expressed confidence that a Southern candidate could defeat Tinubu in 2027.

He stated, “We cannot disregard the unwritten agreement between the North and South. So, the best option for those of us in the coalition is to allow the South to complete their eight years, so that the North can come. So, we have to get a southern candidate with the momentum to lead the coalition.

“I am a northerner. By all definitions, by all geographical location, I am a northerner. But one thing I am stating clearly is that we already have an unwritten agreement. We agree that power shall rotate between the South and North. And it shall be on eight years basis. But it is not automatic because it is still subject to elections. People will contest elections, and Nigerians will decide.

“Parties involved in the coalition should be able to consider that this agreement is already there, and we should honour it. The North must understand that all it takes for a country to develop is the principle of understanding, sharing and co-existence, dictated by the fact that we carry and accommodate all corners, regions, and tribes of this country through consensus.

“For me, I believe that this arrangement will be of benefit to the North. The reason why the government system has failed in Nigeria is that we are driven by mediocrity. We are not looking at competence, merit, and ability. If we are looking at competence, merit, and ability, and governance starts to work, I know that in the nearest future, when we have a robust democracy, governance will work for the interests of the people. Then this issue of region, this issue of tribe, will disappear automatically.

“But for now, since it exists, it is in our interest that we do not break that unwritten agreement. Because if we break it, and if a Northern is running on the mutual coalition discussion, I assure you that before 12 o’clock, there will be a consensus with the South to defeat that coalition.”

He insisted that for the coalition to grow into a majority and for the opposition to win the election, there must be an agreement for a southern candidate.

NNPP, PDP oppose zoning

Buba Galadima, a leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and a close ally of the NNPP’s 2023 Presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, clarified that there was no agreement between the North and South.

While speaking with Sunday TheNigerian, Galadima emphasized that opposition parties should focus on ensuring credible elections rather than worrying about the zones from which presidential candidates originated.

He stated, “I don’t discuss the North and I don’t discuss the South when I speak on democracy. Okay. If Tinubu is finishing and has done well, and Nigerians decide to vote for Seyi Tinubu, I have no grudge, provided that there is a free and fair election.

“I have no grudge because that is democracy. Opposition should be more concerned about credible election, than this North and South thing.

“And anybody who tells you there is any understanding or agreement between the North and South, tell him he’s a liar. And he doesn’t understand what democracy is. He doesn’t understand what politics is. As far as I am concerned, I am talking about democracy, I am not talking about North and South.”

The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, stated that the coalition ticket should be open to all Nigerians.

In an interview with The TheNigerian, Osadolor claimed that President Tinubu, a Southerner, had damaged the economy, and therefore, coalition leaders should abandon the North-South zoning system.

APC, Atiku trade words over coalition

The APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, ridiculed the coalition discussions, stating that a building could not stand on a faulty foundation.

Ibrahim, while speaking to Sunday TheNigerian, referred to Atiku as a contestant who was solely focused on his ambition.

He stated, “A building on a weak foundation cannot stand. So, the coalition is already faulty from the beginning. Atiku is always advancing just his interest. Atiku is just a contestant. He is not a democrat. He is a contestant as far as he is concerned. Everything he is doing, if it is not going to favor his candidature, he is not going to do it.

“So, he is not doing it in the interest of the nation. He is doing it in his own personal interest. Now, when personal interest supersedes national interest, there is just no way you can win the heart of the nation.

“So, no way, it won’t work. This thing has been done before. It failed, they are going to do it again, and they will fail.”

In response, the media adviser to the former Vice President, Paul Ibe, criticised the APC, stating that if the party had performed well in governance, there would be no need for coalition talks to remove them.

Addressing the suggestion that Atiku’s unclear stance on the 2027 presidency and zoning was hindering coalition negotiations, Ibe told Sunday TheNigerian that the leaders involved would prioritise what was best for the nation.

He also urged stakeholders and Nigerians not to rush the process.

Atiku’s media adviser said, “It’s clear they (APC) don’t know what to do with the mandate given to them; instead, they are scheming for the future. Everything happening, from the declarations of state of emergency in Rivers State, to the destruction of the democratic space, stripping Nigeria of freedom and liberty, silencing people so that no one would have a voice. The emasculation of opposition parties is what they excel at—dividing Nigerians and creating instability.

“Prices are rising, and Nigerians can barely afford a meal. This situation makes you question the true agenda of the APC government. Is it to preside over the destruction, decimation, and obliteration of Nigeria? Is that why they sought power? They should focus on governance. If they had made something out of the mandate given to them, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

He explained that the main focus of all the leaders and stakeholders was to solidify the coalition.

“It’s not just about one individual; it’s a collective effort. I believe they are discussing what is best for them, so we shouldn’t preempt them. Let’s not put the cart before the horse. I believe the priority of all these leaders and stakeholders is how to firmly establish this coalition to have a robust one.

“The goal is to oust the All Progressives Congress (APC), and I believe that’s what’s most important to them right now, not what has been suggested so far,” he added.

Former Kano State Governor and Chairman of the League of Northern Democrats (LND), Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has dismissed the recent coalition of opposition figures, stating that it lacks the necessary political structure to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

In a statement issued on Friday, Shekarau described the coalition as an informal gathering of presidential aspirants rather than a well-organized political merger.

He noted that the coalition does not have the backing of the leadership of major opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).

“The coming together of some senior members of opposition parties is a welcome development, as seen recently under what they call a ‘coalition’ of opposition parties. But unfortunately, most people do not realize that this so-called coalition has nothing to do with the major opposition parties; PDP and LP,” Shekarau stated.

According to him, the coalition is being driven by individuals rather than established political structures, making it unlikely to pose a serious threat to the APC’s dominance.

He contrasted the current situation with the 2013 merger that led to the formation of the APC, which involved the unification of four registered parties; the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

“The first political merger in Nigeria happened in 2013 when four registered parties merged to form the APC. So, technically, the APC is not a ‘new party.’

It was an alliance of registered opposition political parties that were already well-established, with elected state governors, state and National Assembly members, and significant grassroots support,” Shekarau explained.

Shekarau further argued that the recent passage of the controversial State of Emergency law for Rivers State in the National Assembly exposed the coalition’s lack of influence over opposition lawmakers.

“What happened at the National Assembly on March 20, 2025, regarding the ‘State of Emergency’ in Rivers State has exposed the so-called coalition. it is clear they have no control over opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly,” he said.

He added that if the coalition leaders had any real influence, the APC government would not have secured the required votes for the law’s passage.

Drawing from history, Shekarau pointed to the failure of a similar coalition attempt in 2019, which brought together ten political parties against the APC but eventually collapsed due to a lack of inclusiveness.

“The 2019 ‘coalition’ was formally launched almost a year before the elections at the Yar’Adua Center, yet none of the then-elected PDP leaders was in attendance. No amount of noise-making or informal alliances by individual politicians in the name of opposition will have any impact in elections unless the full leadership structure of opposition parties at all levels is involved,” he warned.

He also dismissed claims that APC’s strategy of poaching opposition members is solely responsible for the opposition’s weakness, stating that opposition leaders must take responsibility for strengthening their own parties.

“The simplistic claim that the APC is poaching and destabilizing opposition parties is, to me, naïve. Why are the so-called ‘big names’ in the opposition unable to resist defection? Why don’t they unite to properly fund and build their parties while mobilizing grassroots support?” he asked.

Despite his criticisms, Shekarau maintained that the opposition still has a chance to reorganize itself before the 2027 elections if it focuses on genuine unity and strategic planning.

“It is still not too late. I believe that with the right vision, mission, and focus, combined with a genuine sense of purpose, the opposition can change its narrative in 2025 and position itself for success in the 2027 elections,” he added.