By Tajudeen Balogun
As widely reported, move by the strong opposition political gladiators in Nigeria to form a new coalition to contest Presidential election in 2027, against the sitting President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is progressing.
The testimony to this, as played out on Sunday in Abuja, is despite the arrowheads of the coalition – former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s denial that they were yet to form alliance with anyone or any party.
Recall that The New Diplomat has reported exclusively that a meeting of strong political figures is scheduled to hold in Abuja today – Sunday.
True to the report, the gamut of who-is-who in the leading opposition on Sunday evening, gathered at the Continental Hotel, (former Sheraton) Abuja to begin crucial and strategic engagement on the birth of the formidable coalition, targeted to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Presidential flagbearer, President Tinubu.
In over two minutes video obtained by The New Diplomat, former VP Abubakar was seen when arrived at the venue of the meeting, so also was Obi, both exchanging banters with the opposition stalwarts, also billed for the meeting.
Other leading political gladiators seen in the video were former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, Obi’s running mate in 2023 Presidential Election, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former Minister of Transportation and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, among many political party heavyweight from both Northern and Southern parts of the country.
The New Diplomat has also reported that former allies of President Tinubu – Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Dr Kayode Fayemi are parts of the foot soldiers to brainstorm on the formation of the alliance.
Also in the list of the aggrieved APC members, rooting for the alliance is the immediate past Kaduna State Governor, North West Nigeria, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
Given his antecedent, The New Diplomat checks revealed that El-Rufai is likely to belong to the think-tank – for technical workings of the upcoming coalition.
