Opposition Parties Must Unite to Oust APC in 2027, Says PDP Chieftain
Some advocates for change, who are pushing for President Bola Tinubu’s removal in the 2027 election, argue that a united alliance between the major opposition parties is the only way to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This follows statements from Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), who both denied rumors of a merger between key opposition parties.
Reports had previously suggested that Kwankwaso, Obi, and former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had secretly agreed to form an alliance to challenge the ruling party. The alleged plan would see Kwankwaso and Atiku serving as presidents for alternating four-year terms, while Peter Obi would serve for eight years. However, Kwankwaso dismissed the reports during a BBC Hausa interview, urging leaders to refrain from any talks about selecting presidential candidates based on past election results. He called on northern leaders to respect the wishes of the people in choosing their next president.
Peter Obi also clarified the situation in a press conference, firmly denying any merger deal with other opposition figures. However, he emphasized the need for unity in the opposition ranks ahead of the 2027 election to remove the Tinubu-led administration.
Calls for Unity in the Opposition
Mathias Adache, a chieftain of the PDP in Benue South, argued that the key to removing the APC government in 2027 lies in a solid coalition of the major opposition parties. He noted that attempts to challenge the APC individually in 2023 failed, and suggested that forming a unified front is the only way forward. According to him, “there is no way the PDP or Labour Party can defeat Tinubu in 2027 if they don’t come together. They tried this thing individually in 2023, and it didn’t work for us. What magic do they want to perform in 2027?”
He continued, stating that greed and personal interests among some politicians hinder progress. Adache specifically called out Atiku Abubakar, suggesting that the former vice president should focus on organizing and leading the opposition instead of running for president again. He warned that the APC would spare no expense to prevent any unity among opposition parties, as they know that an alliance of the PDP, LP, and NNPP could end their reign. Adache further referenced how the APC’s victory in 2015 was largely due to a successful alliance of opposition forces, and how such a scenario poses a major threat to the APC.
Division in the Opposition Cost Them the 2023 Election
Labour Party chieftain Henry Ternenge also attributed the emergence of the current government to the divisions within the opposition parties. He highlighted that while Tinubu garnered 8.7 million votes in the 2023 election, the combined votes of Atiku (6.9 million), Obi (6.1 million), and Kwankwaso (1.4 million) amounted to over 14 million votes. This division, he argued, allowed Tinubu to win, despite not having the majority of the votes. If the opposition had united, Tinubu’s victory might have been impossible, Ternenge suggested.
He expressed frustration that by now, these opposition leaders should have already formed an alliance and begun preparations for 2027. Ternenge pointed out that the ruling party is confident in its continued success due to the ongoing disunity in the opposition ranks.
Labour Party: No Automatic Ticket for Obi in 2027
Meanwhile, the Labour Party has made it clear that there will be no automatic ticket for Peter Obi in the upcoming election. Despite Obi being the party’s candidate in 2023, the LP emphasized that all positions—presidential, gubernatorial, and others—are open for contest in the 2027 elections. Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, affirmed that “no political party gives automatic tickets,” signaling that the race for the 2027 presidency will be a competitive one.
