Nigeria’s political landscape is witnessing a major shake-up as two of the country’s most prominent opposition figures, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, have joined forces under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
This strategic move marks a departure from their previous affiliations—Atiku from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi from the Labour Party (LP)—as they unite to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
The alliance is being hailed as one of the most significant political realignments since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. It follows months of negotiations aimed at consolidating opposition support, which was fragmented in the 2023 election.
In that contest, Tinubu won the presidency with just 37% of the vote, while Atiku and Obi garnered 29% and 25%, respectively.
Obi’s earlier exit from the PDP, following Atiku’s nomination as the party’s presidential candidate, had split the opposition vote and contributed to the APC’s narrow victory.
At the ADC’s unveiling, interim chairman David Mark emphasized the coalition’s mission to protect Nigeria’s democracy and prevent the emergence of a one-party state.
Meanwhile, both the PDP and LP continue to struggle with internal divisions, with some analysts pointing to external interference as a contributing factor.
Political analyst Shehu Iliyasu observed, “Atiku and Obi have learned from the mistakes of 2023. They believe a united ticket could have changed the outcome, and they’re now determined not to repeat that error.”
The new alliance has been met with enthusiasm by many Nigerians disillusioned with the APC government. Social media has been abuzz with optimism, with some calling the coalition “the best opportunity for real change since 1999.”
However, members of Tinubu’s APC remain cautiously confident. Some have downplayed the threat, citing the difficulties of uniting diverse political interests under a single platform.
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Source: Africafeeds.com
