Join us in NDC, Buba Galadima tells Atiku

A senior figure in the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has asked former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to join the party, warning that he could be blamed if opposition forces fail to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections. Galadima said the success or failure of ongoing coalition efforts would depend largely on whether key […]

A senior figure in the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has asked former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to join the party, warning that he could be blamed if opposition forces fail to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Galadima said the success or failure of ongoing coalition efforts would depend largely on whether key political actors, including Atiku, align with the emerging bloc.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he argued that momentum was already shifting toward a consolidated opposition platform, with several prominent figures taking positions within the NDC.

“The truth of the matter is that Peter Obi and Kwankwaso migrated into the ADC; they brought unity of opposition to unseat Tinubu,” he said, while alleging that earlier efforts at opposition cohesion were undermined.

He urged Atiku to follow the same path, stressing that unity remained the only viable route to challenge the ruling establishment.

“This is why I’m making this call on former vice president Atiku Abubakar to follow us as we followed him… such that there will be a unity of opposition to unseat this government,” Galadima said.

“If he refuses, Atiku will be held responsible for the collapse of the oil post ahead 2027”, he added.

According to him, most influential opposition figures are already gravitating toward the NDC, making it a central platform for coordination ahead of the next election cycle.

“The reality is that all the political gladiators are now in the NDC and any reluctance to join could weaken the coalition’s chances”, he warned.

Galadima further suggested that remaining outside the alliance could have implications for Atiku’s political ambitions, including his prospects in the 2027 race.

The remarks come amid reports of ongoing consultations involving Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, both of whom left the ADC and have been linked to the evolving coalition efforts.

The duo were said to have met with former Bayelsa State Governor, who is now a leader in NDC, Seriake Dickson, as part of moves to strengthen opposition coordination within the party.

However, Atiku’s camp has dismissed claims of any planned defection.

His media adviser, Paul Ibe, said there were no discussions suggesting a shift to the NDC.

“If that is the case, I will be the first to know. I don’t think that there’s anything like that,” Ibe said.

Daily Trust reports that critics of Atiku Abubakar had pointed to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election as evidence of how divisions within the opposition cost them power.

In that contest, Atiku ran alongside Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as separate candidates, fragmenting what could have been a broader coalition.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu eventually won the election despite securing significantly fewer votes than the combined total of the three opposition candidates.

Analysts say Atiku’s refusal at the time to step down for a consensus candidate and his subsequent inability to manage the Wike issue properly contributed to that fragmentation.

The development allowed regional voting patterns to dominate and split the opposition base.

Those assessments have continued to echo in current realignment talks, with some stakeholders insisting that lessons from 2023 should guide preparations for 2027.

The concern, they argue, is that a repeat of parallel ambitions and late-stage coordination could once again dilute opposition strength, reinforcing calls for early consensus and a single, formidable platform