A fresh wave of political drama is rocking Nigeria’s opposition landscape as governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have boldly distanced themselves from a proposed coalition led by former Vice President and ex-presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The PDP Governors’ Forum, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, made it clear that they will not be part of any alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The declaration was made public during a high-stakes meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, signaling growing cracks within the party and casting doubt on the strength of the emerging opposition front targeting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
While Atiku recently unveiled a new coalition aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027, the PDP governors are charting their own course, emphasizing internal cohesion over external alliances. The coalition is rumored to include big names like former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The PDP governors not only dismissed the alliance talks but also stirred internal waters by backing Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo as the Acting National Secretary of the party, further complicating the party’s already heated leadership tussle. The move is seen as a strategic counter to Atiku’s political maneuvers, as his influence within the party appears to be waning.
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Atiku’s coalition efforts come at a time when El-Rufai is leveling serious accusations against the APC, claiming that internal democracy has been destroyed under Tinubu’s leadership. His defection to the SDP and alignment with Atiku is shaking up the political chessboard, but it’s not sitting well with all opposition power blocs.
Adewale Adebayo, the SDP’s former presidential flag bearer, confirmed that talks are ongoing to bring Atiku and Obi into the SDP fold. According to Adebayo, if both men and other top figures adopt the party’s ideology, they stand a real chance of defeating and retiring Tinubu and the APC from national politics in 2027.
But the intrigue doesn’t end there. In a stunning revelation, NNPP chieftain Buba Galadima claimed that Nasir El-Rufai is merely a placeholder for Atiku within the SDP, in case the PDP denies Atiku its presidential ticket once again.
With political alliances shifting rapidly and 2027 looming on the horizon, the PDP’s rejection of Atiku’s coalition throws a wrench into what many hoped would be a united opposition front. As the power struggle intensifies, the race for Nigeria’s top job is shaping up to be more unpredictable than ever.
