Calls for a strong alliance among opposition parties have intensified ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, as advocates for change insist that uniting the opposition is the only way to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and his New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso, have dismissed reports of a merger with other opposition parties.
Recent speculations suggested that Obi, Kwankwaso, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had reached an agreement to form a coalition. According to the rumors, the agreement allegedly included a rotational presidency where Kwankwaso and Atiku would each serve four years, followed by eight years for Obi.
However, Kwankwaso refuted the claim in an interview with BBC Hausa, criticizing northern leaders who position themselves as decision-makers for the region. He emphasized that Nigerians should have the freedom to choose their leaders.
Similarly, Peter Obi denied any merger deal during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday but urged opposition parties to unite to challenge the APC in 2027.
A PDP chieftain in Benue South, Mathias Adache, stressed the importance of a coalition, stating, “No single opposition party can defeat APC in 2027 unless they come together. We failed in 2023 because we acted independently. Unity is the only way forward.”
Adache further accused certain political leaders of prioritizing personal ambition over national interest, adding that confusion within the opposition might be orchestrated by the ruling party to maintain power.
Henry Ternenge, a Labour Party stalwart, echoed similar sentiments, pointing to the 2023 election results as evidence of the need for unity. He argued that a fragmented opposition enabled the APC’s Bola Tinubu to secure victory despite garnering fewer combined votes than opposition candidates.
“If Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso had united in 2023, they would have collectively secured over 14 million votes, far exceeding Tinubu’s 8.7 million,” Ternenge said.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party has stated that there will be no automatic ticket for Peter Obi in 2027. Obi, who defected from the PDP to contest under the LP in 2023, will have to compete for the party’s presidential ticket like other aspirants.
Obiora Ifoh, the LP National Publicity Secretary, reiterated this stance on Saturday, saying, “No political party gives automatic tickets. All positions, including the presidency, are up for contest.”
The APC’s continued dominance poses a significant hurdle for the opposition. Analysts believe that the ruling party’s greatest fear is a united opposition front, as seen during the coalition that ousted former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
Despite the growing calls for unity, opposition leaders have yet to formalize plans for a coalition, raising concerns about their readiness to challenge the APC effectively.