Politics
Anti-Tinubu Coalition: Still Seeking Momentum
The coalition of opposition leaders spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, which once gained significant momentum, is now losing steam, reducing to exploratory talks marked more by shared opposition to President Bola Tinubu than a coherent ideological vision, according to Punchng.com.
Nigeria’s current socio-political landscape closely mirrors that of 2013, when the country was charged by intense moves of opposition leaders plotting to unseat the then President Goodluck Jonathan. Widespread discontent and mounting national crises had spurred the coalition of opposition parties against the Jonathan’s administration.
The 2013 coalition, spearheaded by former Lagos State governor and now President Bola Tinubu, capitalised on growing public distrust, economic mismanagement, and unabated terrorism activities under Jonathan’s government to build strong political momentum.
The alliance leveraged the political strength of existing parties at the time, such as the Action Congress of Nigeria, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, the Congress for Progressive Change, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, to form a united front that ultimately drove the PDP from power two years later.
At that time, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party was battling with deep internal fractures, which led to the defection of five governors out of the seven who staged a dramatic walkout during its national convention held at the Eagles’ Square in Abuja on August 31, 2013. The PDP subsequently splintered into factions that cracked its national dominance and shifted the political climate in favour of the Tinubu-led coalition that birthed the All Progressives Congress.
Back at same spot 12 years after
Nearly 12 years later, Nigeria has found itself at a similar turning point where a mix of economic crisis, rising insecurity and political disaffection have emboldened some opposition heavyweights to plan a formidable coalition against President Tinubu.
On March 20, 2025, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and ex-governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, announced the formation of a coalition aimed at unseating the APC-led administration in the 2027 elections.
In a recent post on his X handle, Atiku outlined the mission of the emerging alliance. “We are building a strong, united opposition coalition — one that will challenge the excesses of this administration, restore accountability, and return government to the people.
“We will protect the right of every Nigerian to freely choose their leaders, and we will continue to fight for economic justice, political freedom, and national progress. We are here to rescue Nigeria. And we will not stop until that goal is achieved,” he posted.
To achieve national spread, the Atiku/Obi-led coalition brought in prominent figures such as former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, his Cross River counterpart, Liyel Imoke, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, and several other northern political heavyweights.
In a strategic move for political realignment, Obi has held private meetings with former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki in recent months. The coalition leaders also met weeks back with some northern power blocs in a bid to rally support for the anti-Tinubu alliance in the region.
The meeting, convened by the National Political Consultative Group (North) had in attendance prominent figures including former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
All talks, no clarity
Many political analysts have expressed mixed reactions over the coalition drive and prospects of opposition unity to achieve its agenda. While some observers see the coalition’s formation as a significant realignment in Nigerian politics, others regard it as sheer exploratory talks which lack ideological clarity beyond the anti-Tinubu sentiments.
In terms of leadership and power dynamics, some observers argue that the Atiku/Obi alliance is still in its consultation phase, and it is quite premature to assess its potential impact. Others, however, contend that the coalition could be undermined by internal power struggles, as its leading figures, Atiku and Obi, have competing ambitions, while the roles of several other prominent allies like El-Rufai remain unclear.
Another counterargument against the ongoing coalition is that some of its arrowheads appear to lack the political weight and mass appeal needed to unseat a dominant ruling party like the APC.
Atiku, who has been the major driver of the alliance, doesn’t have the credibility or command the kind of mass appeal that Buhari had in 2013 due to how he has been moving from one party to another, according to the President, National Association of Political Scientists, Prof Hassan Salisu.
“Buhari’s personality gave substance to the coalition in 2013. He was seen as somebody capable of doing so many things. But there’s nobody that’s very inspiring in the new coalition, not even Atiku.
“Also, Obi doesn’t have the kind of followership that Buhari had. Secondly, there are doubts whether he can retain the same number he had in 2023 this time around because of some developments,” Salisu explained.
But the Atiku’s staunch supporters argue that even Buhari switched political parties before he achieved his presidential ambition after his military stint. They add that cross-carpeting is a familiar trend among the politicians.
Atiku left the PDP for Action Congress in 2006 where he contested the presidential election in 2007, polling 2.6 million votes. He returned to the PDP in 2009, and later joined APC in 2013.
In 2017, Atiku left APC for PDP and got the party’s ticket to contest the 2019 presidential election. He polled 11.2 million votes to come second to Buhari. Atiku also failed to leverage his region’s voting strength to defeat the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu in 2023 as he got 6.9 million votes.
Some Nigerians considered Atiku as someone lacking ideological consistency and driven solely by personal ambition. Others, however, argue that Obi’s debut in the presidential race significantly undercut Atiku’s chances, especially given the former Anambra governor’s strong appeal among the youth.
The pro-Atiku analysts stated that the former vice president would have defeated Tinubu with a landslide had Obi not run against him.
But others believe the Atiku-Obi alliance still wouldn’t have stopped the APC’s return to power as the pair could only muster 11.2 million votes in the 2019 poll despite the widespread dissatisfaction with Buhari’s first-term performance.
Amid the controversies, it has been argued that the fragile state of the opposition parties and their conspicuous absence from the coalition struggle may be another big stumbling block.
Counting opposition losses
Back in 2013, the opposition bloc that collapsed its structures into the APC was formidable enough to pull in governors and heavyweight politicians from the then ruling PDP. The likes of Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), who were all governors at the time, dumped the ruling PDP to pitch tent with the opposition APC.
Today, however, the leading opposition parties, notably the PDP, LP, and New Nigeria Peoples Party have been grappling with internal crises that have cost them key political figures.
Beyond losing over 30 lawmakers to the APC in the National Assembly over the past two years, the opposition has also ceded some of its former strongholds across the federation, including Delta State, to the ruling party. Before the 2023 general elections, opposition parties controlled 16 states, 15 of which were held by the PDP, while the APC had 20 states. But the political map has since changed. The APC now controls 23 states, while the opposition holds 13 with the PDP accounting for 10, while APGA, NNPP, and LP control one state each.
In what could be seen as a potential setback for the ongoing coalition, leading opposition parties, including the PDP and LP, have publicly distanced themselves from the alliance talks. On April 14, 2025, the PDP governors declared at a meeting that the party would not join any coalition.
Similarly, the Labour Party, in a 12-point resolution adopted at the National Executive Council meeting of the party on May 2, 2025 in Abuja, said it will not enter into any coalition or alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It has been argued in some quarters that the absence of the major opposition parties from the coalition will weaken its prosperity, resulting in a fragmented front to the advantage of the APC.
However, both Atiku and Obi’s camps have, at different forums, affirmed their readiness to either adopt one of the existing political parties or create a new platform to mount a strong challenge against the APC. Initially, the coalition had wanted to adopt the SDP but the party’s leadership rejected the move. The African Democratic Congress is now considered as the platform of the coalition to challenge Tinubu in 2027.
Amid the uncertainties, a chieftain of the PDP, Segun Sowunmi, maintained that ultimately, only one party would emerge as the coalition’s platform of choice, and only one individual can become its presidential candidate.
“As far as I am concerned, I don’t believe they are building any coalition. What I think they are doing is what you call ‘forum-shopping,’ looking for a platform that suits their ambition. That kind of effort can only serve one person. But if too many of them are chasing the same goal, well, good luck to them,” Sowunmi told Sunday PUNCH.
Atiku/Obi allies speak
Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, dismissed any negative claims against the coalition’s agenda. He said, contrary to widespread reports, there would be no clash of interests among the coalition leaders. “Atiku, Obi, and other coalition stakeholders are in talks, and once concluded, they will make the way forward public,” Ibe stated.
He insisted that those who believe internal conflicts will tear down the coalition are Tinubu’s loyalists, who are bent on turning Nigeria into a one-party state. “The coalition will succeed and ultimately provide Nigerians with a viable platform to reclaim and rebuild the country in line with their aspirations,” the Atiku’s aide affirmed.
In his comment, Obi’s ally, Peter Ameh, added that the coalition movement remained steadfast in its mission to foster steady, organic growth, prioritising unity and connection with the everyday struggles of Nigerians.
He said the formation strongly believed that sustainable progress is essential for building a coalition that resonates with the majority, particularly the common man on the street, who he said continues to bear the brunt of the current administration’s failure to deliver effective governance. “Contrary to some observers’ narrow assertions, our movement is not driven by any particular individual or group of individuals, but rather by the collective desire of the Nigerian people to see a change in governance,” Ameh added.
As Atiku, Obi, and others continue to champion the anti-Tinubu coalition agenda, the sharp contrast between this unfolding movement and the 2013 experiments is fuelling growing doubts about how far the current alliance can truly go in its bid to unseat the ruling APC. Will it succeed in the long run despite the visible cracks? Can it hit its target without the full cooperation of the established opposition giants? Only time will tell.
Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has backed the re-election of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He expressed his support after joining the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation (TMS), popularly known as the “Tinubu Must Stay” movement, to promote the president’s re-election agenda.
Olujonwo said his decision to join the movement was informed by his longstanding association with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and his belief in the need to sustain the policies and reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.
He was formally received by the leadership of TMS at a forum in Abuja, where he expressed support for the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and called for increased public awareness of its policies and achievements.
Olujonwo, who serves as president of the Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) and Project One Nigeria, as well as Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Housing, said he had been associated with the APC since 2014.
Explaining his political background, he said he was familiar with the party’s formation and its relationship with key political figures, including his father, former President Obasanjo, the late President Muhammadu Buhari and President Tinubu.
“I have been in the APC since 2014. I was there when my father hosted the late President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to form the movement. I am not new to the party,” he said.APC party merchandise
He argued that some of the policies and achievements of the Tinubu administration were not being adequately communicated to Nigerians, adding that misinformation had contributed to negative perceptions of the government.
Olujonwo cited developments in the education sector, infrastructure and access to student loans as areas he believed deserved greater public attention.
“There is a lot of noise out there, and people are distorting what is going on. ASUU has had no strikes. Students have access to loans. Nigeria has become a massive construction site and an investors’ haven again. These are things we need to promote,” he said.
His decision to join the movement comes as political parties and their supporters begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election, in which Tinubu is expected to seek another presidential term.
The move also places the son of the former president within a political platform established to defend the current administration’s policies and encourage public support for continuity in governance.
Welcoming Olujonwo to the movement, the National Coordinator of TMS and Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said his background gave him an understanding of the importance of economic reforms.
Inuwa drew a comparison between the economic reforms introduced during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration and those being pursued by Tinubu, arguing that both periods involved policies intended to reshape Nigeria’s economy.
He cited telecommunications liberalisation and banking reforms under the elder Obasanjo as measures that helped establish the foundation for subsequent economic development.
“You grew up in a family that led the second wave of reforms in Nigeria. Telecommunications liberalisation, banking reforms—these laid a solid foundation. Being raised in that family, you understand what reforms mean,” Inuwa said.
He urged Nigerians to consider the long-term implications of government policies, warning that reversing ongoing reforms could undermine investor confidence and disrupt economic progress.
According to him, maintaining policy consistency would be important for attracting investment and sustaining developments in key sectors of the economy.
“We are building investors’ confidence. The naira is becoming strong. Our stock exchange is one of the fastest-growing. The Dangote Refinery is a game changer. If we start reversing these policies, we’ll go back to where we were,” Inuwa added.
Also speaking at the event, Marcel Ngogbehei, Director-General of TMS and a former coordinator of the Obidient Movement, praised the economic policies implemented during Obasanjo’s presidency.
Ngogbehei highlighted the former president’s role in securing debt relief for Nigeria and supporting the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, describing those measures as important contributions to the country’s economic development.
He said TMS intended to promote discussions about government policies through evidence, research and public engagement rather than propaganda.
“We’re happy you have decided to take this step. Your father was one of those who revolutionised this country. The debt was paid off, and major innovations were introduced in liberalising the economy. This is not about propaganda. We will engage respectfully, factually and transparently,” Ngogbehei said.
The organisation said it had established structures across the country, including a Board of Trustees, national coordinators and specialised directorates, to support its activities.
It also plans to use digital platforms, virtual town hall meetings, policy research and fact-checking initiatives to promote the government’s policies and address what it considers misinformation about the administration.
Following Olujonwo’s reception, TMS announced plans to expand its engagement with professional associations, youth organisations and community groups across the country.
The planned activities are intended to increase public participation in governance and communicate the administration’s policies to Nigerians across different states and geopolitical zones.
Meanwhile, Olusegun Obasanjo has previously expressed concerns about Nigeria’s economic challenges, arguing that the country has sufficient natural and human resources to become prosperous.
In an interview on C-Suite Cafe, hosted by Ikem Okuhu, the former president questioned why Nigeria continued to struggle with poverty despite its agricultural potential, vast land, water resources and large population.Buy Maps
“Give me one reason why Nigeria should be poor. Is it the land that we don’t have or the desert that we are in or the people that we don’t have or the water that we don’t have or the rain that we don’t have?” he asked.
Obasanjo also criticised policies that encourage the importation of goods that could be produced locally, arguing that such practices discourage domestic farmers and undermine local production.
He recalled how restrictions on rice imports were introduced in 1979 to encourage domestic production, claiming that subsequent administrations reversed the policy and allowed imported rice to compete with locally produced varieties.
“When our successors came, one of the first things they did was to lift importation of rice, not to encourage production of rice but to encourage importation of rice, and the farmers couldn’t sell their own rice,” he said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has indicated plans to take disciplinary action against members accused of working against its interests, with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, among those facing criticism over his alleged support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).Access Services
PDP chieftain Emmanuel Ogidi disclosed the party’s position during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday.
He discussed the lingering crisis within the opposition party and the steps its leadership intends to take against members accused of undermining its activities.
Ogidi described the situation as internal sabotage and maintained that the party could no longer afford to tolerate actions that weaken its structure, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum.
He accused Wike of maintaining a relationship with the PDP while allegedly supporting the interests of the APC, arguing that such conduct raised serious questions about loyalty and commitment to the opposition party.
“You can’t serve two masters. He (Wike) is supposed to be serving us in PDP, but he is serving APC. This is a threat to democracy. APC is using him to destroy democracy, and it’s deliberate, but we are very conscious of that and very soon you will hear what will happen,” Ogidi said. Access Services
The PDP chieftain’s comments suggest that the party may be preparing to take a firmer position against members it believes are contributing to its internal difficulties.
However, he did not disclose the specific disciplinary measures being considered or when any formal decision concerning Wike would be announced.
Ogidi also indicated that the party had moved beyond the demands previously presented by Wike’s camp during efforts to resolve the disagreements within the PDP.
His comments point to growing frustration among party members who believe that the disagreements have continued for too long and are affecting the party’s ability to prepare for future elections.
The dispute involving Wike and the PDP has remained a major issue within the party since the 2023 general elections, when divisions emerged over its presidential candidate, the distribution of party positions and disagreements surrounding the political future of its leadership.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, was a prominent PDP member before President Bola Tinubu appointed him as FCT minister in 2023.
His appointment placed him in the cabinet of an APC-led administration despite his continued association with the opposition party.
His role in the federal government has since generated disagreements among PDP members, with some questioning how a senior party figure can serve in an administration controlled by a political opponent while remaining associated with the PDP.
Ogidi, however, insisted that the PDP belongs to its members and supporters rather than any individual or faction.
He argued that no group should be allowed to dictate the party’s direction or prevent it from enforcing its rules.
He further warned that the party’s willingness to reconcile with aggrieved members should not be interpreted as an acceptance of indiscipline.
According to him, efforts to bring members together must be accompanied by accountability for actions considered harmful to the party.
The PDP remains one of Nigeria’s major political parties, but prolonged internal crises could affect its candidate-selection process, campaign planning and efforts to attract voters ahead of 2027.Nigeria travel guide
Despite these challenges, Ogidi maintained that the PDP remained strong and capable of overcoming its current difficulties.
He dismissed suggestions that defections, court cases and disagreements over zoning had rendered the party incapable of competing in future elections.
He said the party was focused on ensuring that its forthcoming convention was successful, describing the exercise as an important step in its preparations for the 2027 polls.
Nevertheless, the exact nature of the proposed action against Wike and other members remains unclear, pending any formal announcement by the party’s authorised organs.
The FCT minister has not been quoted in the remarks provided as responding directly to Ogidi’s latest comments.
The allegations against him should therefore be understood as the position expressed by the PDP chieftain rather than an established finding of wrongdoing.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports of a disagreement between its governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, insisting that both sides remain committed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described the reported disagreement as a ‘false battle’.
He maintained that there was no genuine conflict between the minister and members of the Progressives Governors Forum.
Morka clarified this on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television’s News Day, following Wike’s inclusion in the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
According to him, the governors and the FCT Minister share a common political objective of ensuring Tinubu’s victory in the next presidential election.
“It was a false battle to begin with. I mean, I don’t think there was any real tension between those positions because they united in their extraordinary commitment to the re-election of the president,” Morka said.
He noted that the Progressive Governors Forum comprised governors elected on the APC platform, while Wike, a former Rivers State governor, was a member of Tinubu’s cabinet and a vocal supporter of the President.
According to him, publication of the presidential campaign council list had also clarified the roles of those involved in Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
He said: “Governors, who are not of the APC, now [are] front and centre, coordinating some of our activities in their respective jurisdictions.”
Morka described the development as a new phase in Nigeria’s democratic politics, arguing that the President was bringing politicians from different parties together around a common objective.
The APC spokesperson claimed that the collaboration was unusual in a presidential system, stressing that Tinubu was transcending party differences by building a coalition of political actors to support his administration and re-election campaign.
He said: “We’re seeing a president who is transcending all of the divides and really nullifying what I call the politics of difference between these partisans and bringing them together under the same umbrella to pursue a common agenda for the good of the people.”
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