Atiku announces coalition against Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday at a meeting of key opposition leaders said they have formed a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja, attended by several opposition politicians, including former APC members who have since defected. The event was convened […]

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday at a meeting of key opposition leaders said they have formed a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja, attended by several opposition politicians, including former APC members who have since defected.

The event was convened to address President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State over the political crisis there.

Among those present at the event were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who was represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal; former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; a former gubernatorial hopeful in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi; former Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr Salihu Lukman; Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, Chief Peter Ameh and Soni Monidafe, among others.

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When asked whether the emerging coalition would serve as the main opposition against the APC in the 2027 elections, Atiku said: “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.”

Even though some stakeholders have reservations, Atiku’s statement signalled a significant political realignment, with opposition forces preparing to challenge the dominance of the APC.

Observers are asking how leaders with differing ideologies, ambitions, and party affiliations can work together to fulfil their promise to Nigerians.

 

‘Approach different from how we defeated Jonathan’

A prominent member of the 8th Senate, who was part of the coalition that ousted former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, said that the recent realignments in the political space might not work.

The source, who does not want to be quoted, said: “The first problem is that they are talking about forming a coalition and not a merger to form a strong political party. This is not what happened ahead of 2015 general election and based on my understanding, this will not work.

“Secondly, for you to remove a sitting president like Tinubu, you need to have a strong leadership, just like what happened in 2013 ahead of the merger when despite our differences we all agreed from the onset that Muhammadu Buhari will be the leader and our potential presidential candidate.

“We all worked along that direction and in the movement, we have strong people including serving governors, technocrats and other people with serious influence in the society,” the source said.

He said after projecting themselves as a single force with firm control over their political parties, they approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of APC.

“We achieved all these ahead of the 2015 election and during the primaries, Buhari emerged as the candidate of the APC and we collectively mobilised resources and confronted Jonathan and we defeated him with the massive support from Nigerians.

“Unfortunately, the people that are working to have a coalition now are racing against time, they mostly have personal ambitions. They are also coming on the back of their various political parties. I wonder how this will work in their favour. It is very unlikely to defeat Tinubu with this arrangement.

“Look at how he worked his way ahead of 2023 to get the APC ticket. Now that he has access to enormous resources and the instrument of authority, it will take more than a coalition to defeat him,” he said.

 

How past coalitions fared

Historically, Nigerian electoral victories have often resulted from marriages of convenience rather than ideological unity. Political alliances and coalitions are typically formed out of necessity, driven by the need to secure power. While some have succeeded, many have collapsed due to internal disagreements and power struggles.

In the First Republic, the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) was formed in 1964 as a coalition of opposition parties, including the Action Group (AG) and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), to challenge the ruling Northern People’s Congress (NPC). The alliance ultimately failed to achieve its goal.

However, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) formed a strategic alliance in 1979, allowing the NPN to secure a parliamentary majority and form a government.

In 2003, opposition parties such as the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) attempted alliances against the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but failed to consolidate power.

The most successful coalition in Nigeria’s political history emerged in 2013, when the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the new PDP (nPDP) merged to form the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This coalition defeated the PDP in the 2015 presidential election, marking the first time an opposition party unseated an incumbent government.

Since then, several efforts have been made to replicate that feat, but all have fallen short.

 

Tinubu can’t be distracted by sore losers – Onanuga

Reacting to the recent development, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga said that Tinubu cannot be distracted by “the so-called coalition of politicians”, who he described as “sore losers”.

In a chat with Daily Trust, Onanuga said, “President Tinubu is focused on governance to build a prosperous country. He is on the way to achieving this. Two months to his midterm, he has many solid achievements to showcase. Intractable problems are being tackled headlong. 

“He cannot be distracted by the so-called coalition of politicians. They are not politicians after the public good. It’s all about their self-interest.

“They are disgruntled. They are a frustrated lot. The leaders are sore losers. The coalition is an amalgam of Tinubu haters. Their agenda is to stop Tinubu,” he added.

On his part, APC spokesman Felix Morka could not be reached for comment. However, sources within the party indicated that an official response would be issued today (Friday).

But in an earlier reaction to Atiku’s call for opposition leaders to unite in order to “save” Nigeria’s democracy, Morka had dismissed Atiku’s assertions as “laughable” and questioned his credibility.

Morka also criticised Atiku, alongside other opposition figures like Obi and El-Rufai, for suggesting that the ruling party was responsible for the internal challenges facing opposition groups.