2027 and the Gathering Storm: Tinubu Faces a United Front or a Mirage of Unity?

The political temperature in Nigeria is rising fast, and for good reason. As Nigerians wrestle with spiraling inflation, growing food insecurity, and a deepening cost-of-living crisis, there is a palpable sense of disillusionment across the nation. It’s no surprise then that opposition forces, sensing both opportunity and urgency, are coalescing with one loud, unambiguous message: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must not return in 2027.

But here’s the crux of the matter, beyond the headlines and hashtags, is this coalition a credible political realignment or just another recycled elite pact that collapses under the weight of ego and ambition?

President Tinubu came into power in 2023 amid much controversy and accusation of electoral manipulation. Since then, his administration has done little to earn the trust of, the people. His policies, often described as anti-people and pro-oligarchy, have driven millions deeper into poverty. The fuel subsidy removal, floated Naira, mass layoffs, and hike in energy prices have not been backed by structural reforms or social cushioning. Instead, Nigerians are being asked to endure pain in perpetuity, while the ruling APC behaves like it owns the future.

Unsurprisingly, this tone-deafness has bred a counterforce. A large, ambitious coalition is now emerging, made up of strange bedfellows united not necessarily by ideology or a shared vision, but by a common political target: Tinubu.

At the center of this opposition storm is Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate. His message of fiscal prudence and institutional reform struck a chord with millions, especially the youth. Obi has not only declared his intention to contest again in 2027, but has also shown a willingness to forge strategic alliances, even if it means teaming up with past rivals.

That brings Atiku Abubakar into the mix. The perennial contender and former Vice President still commands influence within the PDP and has thrown his weight behind the coalition. Talks of a possible Obi-Atiku alliance, with Obi as running mate under a one-term rotational presidency, have dominated political discourse. While not confirmed, it underscores a new political pragmatism: the opposition may be learning that power is not always won by who is most “popular,” but by who is most strategic.

Another name thrown into the ring is Seyi Makinde, Oyo State Governor, whose calm competence and political tact have earned him quiet admirers nationwide. Though his ambition remains unofficial, campaign posters already dot the streets of Kano and Abuja. Backed by the Brave New Vision Support Group, Makinde could become a unifying figure if the opposition hits a gridlock.

But it is Nasir El-Rufai, the firebrand former Kaduna governor, who has perhaps been the boldest in directly confronting the Tinubu presidency. Dismissing the president’s 2027 chances outright, El-Rufai bluntly stated that anyone banking on Tinubu’s re-election is “living in another country.” That statement, coming from a former APC insider, struck like a thunderbolt, and signaled the depth of fractures within the ruling elite itself.

El-Rufai is not alone. Babachir Lawal, another former Tinubu ally, has also been deeply involved in coalition-building efforts. Together with former governors Rotimi Amaechi and Liyel Imoke, the emerging opposition movement is working on two fronts: restructuring existing opposition parties, and forming a new mega-party. Amaechi is reportedly leading efforts to register this new entity, while Imoke is heading negotiations to merge opposition blocs into one political machine.

Let’s not ignore the smaller but vocal platforms. Ralph Okey Nwosu, National Chairman of the ADC, summed it up succinctly: “From Lagos to Kano, Nigerians are united by hunger and insecurity, symptoms of failed leadership. The APC is delusional. Either they sweep themselves out or the citizens will do it for them.” It’s a sentiment that reflects a nationwide yearning for rescue from a government that has lost its moral compass.

Yet, despite the impressive cast of players, I must sound a note of caution. This opposition coalition, if not carefully managed, could implode under the familiar weight of ambition, mistrust, and ethnic suspicion. We’ve seen similar alliances before, built on paper, collapsed in practice.

If these opposition actors are truly serious, they must subordinate their egos and ambitions to the greater goal: reclaiming Nigeria for the people. This must not be another elite power game; it must be a people-driven revolution of ideas, competence, and vision. Otherwise, the Tinubu establishment, despite its failings, will steamroll its way back to power, leveraging incumbency, money, and the divided loyalties of a disillusioned electorate.

The 2027 battle is not just about removing Tinubu. It’s about rescuing a nation on the brink. It is about building a Nigeria where elections are not auctions, where governance is not robbery, and where leadership serves the people, not enslaves them.

Will this coalition rise to the challenge or repeat history’s mistakes?

We watch. We wait.

Hon. Chimazuru Nnadi-Oforgu
Duruebube Uzii na Abosi
Political Commentator, Strategist, Advocate for National Rebirth

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