Anti-Tinubu coalition: Atiku, Obi, others seek unified platform

 Anti-Tinubu Coalition: Atiku, Obi, Others Seek Unified Platform




ABUJA — A coalition of opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, continued talks in Abuja to forge a united front against President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

Sources indicate a major announcement is expected soon, although consensus has not yet been reached on whether to adopt a new platform or merge with an existing party.

Attendees included former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Donald Duke (Cross River), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), and Babachir Lawal (former SGF), among others. The PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and Professor Jerry Gana also participated.

Tensions Flare Over Jigawa Representation

The meeting, held at Abuja Continental Hotel and organized by the National Political Consultative Group (North), was briefly disrupted when Jigawa State delegates protested Babachir Lawal’s nomination of a representative on their behalf. The incident escalated with delegates storming the stage and rejecting the choice, prompting security intervention to protect key figures including Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi.

Order was restored after Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido, and another delegate were selected to represent the state.

Diverging Views on Platform Strategy

Discussions revealed three main proposals: establishing a new political party, merging with an existing one, or forming an alliance similar to the defunct AD-APP model. Dr. Umar Ardo of the League of Northern Democrats confirmed his group’s support for the coalition and emphasized the importance of choosing a viable platform.

Two committees have been formed: one led by Rotimi Amaechi to explore forming a new party, and another led by Liyel Imoke to assess merging with an existing one.

Conflicting signals emerged when African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chairman Chief Ralphs Nwosu claimed the coalition had settled on ADC as its platform. This was contradicted by Obi’s statement that he intended to remain with the Labour Party—despite its internal leadership disputes—causing unease within the coalition.

A source noted: “Obi’s move might be a negotiation tactic. Atiku hasn’t openly insisted on the PDP, which reflects ongoing strategic flexibility.”

Obi: Northern Nigeria Holds the Key

Obi, speaking to northern stakeholders under the National Political Consultative Group, emphasized that the North is vital to Nigeria’s future. He linked insecurity in the region to poverty and stressed the need to vote based on competence, not tribal or religious lines.

He recalled Kano’s past economic significance and lamented the decline of its industries, attributing it to poor governance. Obi cited agrarian successes in countries like Bangladesh and the Netherlands as examples the North could emulate.

Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami, delivering the keynote, also emphasized the urgency of creating a platform to rescue northern Nigeria from worsening insecurity.

ADC Pushes for Quick Resolution

ADC’s National Chairman, Dr. Okey Nwosu, expressed confidence that the coalition talks would conclude in one to two weeks. He said ADC has been laying the groundwork for over a year, engaging both political and civil society groups.

Nwosu stated that his party has held talks with key opposition figures including Atiku, Obi, and Nasir el-Rufai. However, he cautioned against viewing ADC as a vehicle for opportunistic ambitions, stressing that meaningful transformation requires strong, principled leadership.


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