Fresh Political Move: Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai Plan Challenge to Tinubu in 2027

According to prominent political figures, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and others, they have decided to use the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their main coalition party to run against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
According to many people close to Atiku and Obi’s camps, who talked to Punch on condition of anonymity because they lacked formal authority, a meeting on Tuesday night was a major step in the coalition’s ongoing efforts.
The leaders of the coalition decided to make ADC the focal point of their political partnership during this meeting.

The sources added that in anticipation of the 2027 election, ADC was already working to strengthen and reorganize, with formal announcements of the reforms anticipated in the days ahead.
Coalition leaders met at 8 p.m. on Tuesday to finalize important decisions targeted at overthrowing President Tinubu in 2027, according to a statement released by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai during an event on Wednesday.

The coalition’s main goal, El-Rufai emphasized, is to guarantee Tinubu’s return to Lagos by the following general election.

The ADC is currently in coalition talks with Atiku, Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and other political personalities, according to Ralph Nwosu, the party’s national chairman, who also verified this in an interview with Punch. Aiming to increase opposition unity before the 2027 election, these talks are a component of larger initiatives.

As the coalition gained traction, Ajibola Basiru, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), denounced the opposition alliance in an interview with Punch, referring to President Tinubu as the “true father of all coalitions.”

The alliance leaders, including Atiku, Obi, and others, are doomed to lose the 2027 election, according to Basiru.

On March 20, political figures Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, and others made public the coalition’s establishment with the goal of running against President Tinubu in 2027.

The announcement generated a great deal of discussion over the possibility of opposition unity, with differing views on the coalition’s prospects and approach.

According to a source who spoke to Punch on Tuesday, Peter Obi is debating with his supporters whether to accept Atiku’s offer of the vice presidential post. Both parties are considering the ADC as their coalition platform.

“To review all the issues and the major parties, the coalition leaders from the Obi and Atiku camps met last night in Abuja,” he said. They decided that the ADC should serve as the primary coalition platform after their talks.

“Even though some of the leaders, such as El-Rufai and others, are already members of the Social Democratic Party, they decided to come up with a plan for an alliance between ADC, SDP, and other platforms after ADC is declared as the main coalition platform in the next few days.

“I am aware that funds have already been set aside to reorganize the ADC, and that the party’s National Leadership and Board of Trustees are set to undergo changes. The upcoming days will see the announcement of these adjustments.

Nonetheless, the party has been selected as the main coalition platform for coalition nationalists. They have informed their loyalists, who are getting ready to join the party and assist in reforming it.

According to a different source, the leaders of the alliance decided to guarantee that everyone would have an equal opportunity, irrespective of their origin geopolitical zone.

During their meeting yesterday night, the groups decided to use the ADC as their platform, he claimed. No decision has been taken, despite the fact that the idea of a vice-presidential position and a one-term presidency is still being discussed.

“Therefore, they decided that in spite of their geopolitical backgrounds, the ADC’s coalition efforts will guarantee a level playing field for all participants, particularly presidential candidates.”

According to El-Rufai, who confirmed the meeting, the coalition’s goal is to overthrow President Tinubu and guarantee his return to Lagos in 2027.

The former governor of Kaduna State stated in a video uploaded on Wednesday to the 𝕏 account @AbdulRasheeth that the meeting’s specifics would be revealed in the days ahead.

El-Rufai, who was obviously outlining the challenges he had to overcome in order to attend the Katsina event, said, “A very significant meeting of the coalition we are creating to ensure that President Tinubu returns to Lagos was held yesterday at 8 p.m.

I had to go to the meeting at 8 p.m., even though we will give further updates later.

In an interview with Punch, the ADC National Chairman acknowledged that he was not aware of the meeting yesterday but acknowledged that the party officials tasked with the task have been engaging in talks with other coalition leaders.

The ADC has been in discussions with Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and others, Nwosu disclosed, adding that they are confident they can successfully rescue Nigeria if they work together.

“I am aware that ADC chieftains are attending a meeting with some coalition leaders,” said the ADC National Chairman. ADC is not simply participating in coalition talks before this election; it has been doing so for many years.

For this election, however, we are speaking with patriots, political parties, and other interested parties. No matter what comes out of our talks, the public will know—not in months, but in a few days.

For this reason, we established a committee in our capacity as National Chairman. Our committees are interacting with all patriots who are concerned about saving this nation. I can attest that we’re talking to more than just Atiku. Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and numerous others are also being involved.

“We are negotiating with leaders of political parties and ardent nationalists. We think that if they all cooperate, we can deliver this nation.

Nwosu rejected the assertion as conjecture when asked if Atiku, Obi, and other coalition leaders wanted him and Mani Ibrahim, the chairman of the board of trustees, to resign in order to restructure the ADC.

But he emphasized that they are prepared to give up anything in order to save Nigeria.

That is conjecture, he said. But rest certain that we are prepared to make any and all sacrifices, including my own, in order to save the country. To advance this nation, we are prepared to make whatever sacrifices are necessary.

One or two parties are not the only ones involved in this national rescue discussion. Civil society organizations, political parties, and other important groups are all involved.

“ADC stands prepared to provide all assistance required to make this a reality. We have assembled the rescue movement’s party.

In an interview with Punch, Paul Ibe, Atiku’s media adviser, discussed the coalition and the involvement of other political parties and personalities.

“To tell the truth, I am not aware of that,” he remarked. I am unable to speak about what I do not know. What I do know is that we are negotiating Nigeria’s rescue with political parties and nationalists.

All party leaders and stakeholders are a part of this coalition, according to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, and we must believe him when he says that there are no exceptions. No final decision has been made as of yet.

We’re making progress on the political platform, and the public will soon be updated. The movement behind these coalition attempts is pan-Nigerian. Those who believe in the goal of rebuilding and restoring the nation will be able to locate accommodations.

We are in that location. This alliance is dedicated to fulfilling its mandate to restore Nigeria.

Peter Ahmehn, National Secretary of Coalition for United Political Parties, said that Obi and his followers are still Labour Party members.

Read Also: Osun Residents Benefit from Fidelity Food Bank Initiative

“I am aware the coalition drive is ongoing,” he remarked. However, I do not have access to such information regarding the meeting from yesterday.

“As I previously stated, Mr. Peter Obi, myself, and the other members of our team are dedicated to the Labour Party. As members of the Labour Party, our purpose is to support and advance the party’s beliefs.

According to CUPP National Publicity Secretary Mark Adebayo, Nigerians would soon receive updates on the coalition’s progress.

Atiku, Obi, and other coalition leaders are dedicated to save Nigeria from the failing APC government led by President Tinubu, Adebayo emphasized in an interview with Punch.

As far as I can tell,” he said, “discussions are going on and are at their height right now. Nigerians will soon receive information on the platform and everything else.

“The leaders and stakeholders of the coalition will not be sidetracked. Indeed, they are resolute and committed to cooperating to free Nigeria from President Tinubu’s failing APC regime.

“We will shortly make available any information you require on the coalition movement. We will give the country a briefing soon, but we realize Nigerians are sick of the APC and want to hear from us.

In response to the coalition’s decision, APC National Secretary Basiru said in an exclusive interview with Punch that the former vice president and other opposition leaders will lose again in 2027 because their coalition is not led by the interests of Nigerians.

They aren’t creating any alliances, and if they do, President Tinubu is the coalition grandmaster, he said. Among the alliances that assisted in overthrowing the military was the National Democratic Coalition, of which he is a chieftain.

What are their options for taking on the grandmaster of coalitions through a coalition? Additionally, our party is skilled at forging coalitions.

“We formed a congress comprising major political parties first.” Nigerians need to understand that the falsehoods they spread about winning the 2023 election are now being exposed.

According to Basiru, who counseled Atiku, Obi, and others to rejoin their parties, the alliance leaders would lose the 2027 election.

“If they really think they won the 2023 election, why are they discussing a coalition for 2027?” said the national secretary of the APC. They ought to simply return to their political party.

But the fact is that they lost the 2023 election, and with God’s help, they will lose the 2027 election as well. The APC’s President Tinubu will prevail.

“Inordinate ambition and a sense of entitlement, rather than love for Nigeria, are the driving forces behind this so-called arrangement or coalition.”