Fresh cracks have emerged within Nigeria’s opposition bloc ahead of the 2027 presidential election, following disagreements over the push for a single consensus candidate after the defection of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Associates of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, said on Monday that plans by a broad opposition coalition to present a consensus presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu remain intact despite recent political realignments.
They also dismissed concerns that the exit of Obi and Kwankwaso from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would weaken the opposition’s chances in 2027.
Atiku, who resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the eve of his 79th birthday in 2025, had joined the ADC as part of efforts to unite opposition forces.
Obi and Kwankwaso, who were the presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2023, later joined him in the ADC in 2026.
However, both men have now left the party for the NDC, amid political intrigues and internal disputes in the ADC.
Speaking with Punch on condition of anonymity, an ally of Atiku said it was too early to discuss whether the former vice president would commit to serving only one term if he emerges as the coalition candidate.
The source said, “It would have been better he gets the ticket first before we talk about whether he is committed to a single term of four years or not. For me, this is too early.”
Another long-serving member of Atiku’s camp rejected the single-term presidency debate, describing it as premature and distracting.
The source said Atiku was more focused on strengthening the ADC than on personal ambition.
“This is like putting the cart before the horse. Atiku is presently interested in the growth and supremacy of the party, the ADC. Without the party, no individual ambition will survive. Talks such as the single term tenure, are mere distractions,” the source said.
‘ADC Train Still Moving’
The Atiku ally likened the ADC to a moving train, saying the exit of Obi and Kwankwaso would not stop others from joining the party.
He said, “The party has to grow first and become formidable. The party is like a train. At some point, passengers will alight and others will get in. Obi and Kwankwaso have decided to get off the train but that has not stopped others from getting in. The destination is the 2027 election.
“Obi and Kwankwaso were not forced off the train. They got off themselves.”
The source insisted that the plan to build a coalition capable of challenging Tinubu in 2027 remains alive.
“For us, nothing has changed. The coalition idea is still relevant today,” he said.
