Mohamed Garba
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has announced the formation of a Coalition of Opposition Political Parties aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. Speaking at a press conference at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Atiku emphasized the importance of synergy among opposition parties to present a formidable front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This development follows recent political realignments, notably the defection of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). El-Rufai’s move has been interpreted as a strategic step towards building a robust opposition coalition. He has been actively engaging with other political figures, including Atiku and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, to strengthen the opposition’s position ahead of the 2027 elections.
The APC has downplayed the potential impact of this emerging coalition. Bala Ibrahim, the party’s National Publicity Director, characterized the alliance between Atiku and Obi as an ineffective strategy, likening them to “strange bedfellows” and expressing confidence that such an alliance would not pose a significant threat to President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
As the political landscape evolves, the effectiveness of this opposition coalition in challenging the incumbent administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains a subject of national interest and debate.