By Tajudeen Balogun
Nigeria has its peculiar political culture. To some extent, it may be alluded that the style of politics in the country is African, albeit, with little variance from one country to another in the continent.
In Nigeria, it has become traditional to see political class, hardly giving enough time for the sitting government to navigate its way through the hurdles of not just governance, but good governance in the real sense of the word, before kick starting the march towards another election.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has barely stayed in power for two years, yet, the country’s political landscape has been charged and reactivated for politicking against the next general elections, interestingly with the special focus on the 2027 Presidential poll.
Recently, the traditional and new media have been awashed with the reports of moves by the political gladiators, in opposition political parties from both Northern and Southern parts of the country to form a viable coalition to confront and contest against President Tinubu and his ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The emerging deal
Prior to Sunday, May 25, 2025 Abuja meeting of the political heavyweights, the arrowheads of the emerging coalition – a former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former Presidential candidate of the opposition Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, have been widely speculated to have sealed a deal to run for the next Presidential election on the same platform.
Atiku reportedly agreed to run for a single term, after which he clears the way for Obi to succeed him. Still, the duo kept denying that they have not agreed on alliance with anyone or any party. It was also speculated that the two and other initiators of the alliance were considering using the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the ‘purpose vehicle’ for their contest.
Despite the repeated denial from the duo, the meeting of opposition political figures which was convened by the National Political Consultative Group (North) has dispelled Atiku and Obi’s rebuttal, giving strong signal that the touted formidable coalition is real and looms large.
The Continental Hotel Abuja meeting which played host to a long list of the political big names in the country – including former governors, Ministers, strong politicians and former top government officials sent a strong signal, not only to a few Nigerians, also to keen political watchers.
Political dynamics and defections
The question begging for an answer is: can the emerging coalition and alliance work and go far, as well as deliver desirable results? The waiting to actualise answers to critical posers would be a long one.
The opposition is not only the side caught in the web of hasty march and race to the next general elections.
Recently, there was a political tsunami in Delta State, South South, Nigeria. To the shock of everyone, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor and running mate to Alhaji Abubakar, as well as all the elective political office holders dumped PDP and joined APC!
Again, Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno is warming up to exit from his political party. He went further to order his Commissioners, Special Advisers and other aides to move with him to the APC, once he declared.
With the Delta Governor’s defection and planned similar move by his counterpart, in Akwa Ibom, the President and the ruling APC have accused and been given hard knocks – of ruthless attempt to reduce Nigeria to one political party system.
At this time, is there a need for desperate scheming for the 2027 Presidential election?
Former Chairman of the Kwara State chapter of the ruling APC, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa has faulted the emerging coalition against President Tinubu, challenging that the entire orchestration is pursuit of a “selfish agenda”.
Bolarinwa alleged that the political gladiators, who he described as serial losers, are ganging up to take over the rulership of the country at all cost.
He challenged the politicians behind the coalition and wondered if they had in any way fared better in their previous opportunities to serve the country.
Where will the pendulum Swing?
Prominent Lagos based Lawyer, Dr Wahab Shittu, (SAN) told The New Diplomat that the move to form a coalition now is too early, needless and distracting.
The Principal Partner at WK Shittu & Co and a Senior Lecturer at the Jurisprudence and International Law Department, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, in an engagement with The New Diplomat declared that the “political elite across parties ought to at this stage be more focused on governance and less on politicking”.
Shittu, a Public Affairs Analyst insisted and told The New Diplomat that he considered the present moves “premature and hasty if not a distraction”.
Conclusion
For now, neither the Presidency, nor the ruling APC has uttered any reaction to Sunday meeting – which apparently is the beginning of the long trip to birth a new political coalition for the next Presidential election.
