Opposition strongholds are increasingly concerned with a repeat of the 2023 outcome, when internal fissures gave ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, President Bola Tinubu, a slim but strategic win.
Sources within some of the opposition parties informed LEADERSHIP Sunday that there is increasing concern at the failure of principal opposition players to coalesce under one candidate for the 2027 general elections. They alerted that unless ego differences and personal ambitions are put aside, toppling the APC may turn out to be even more challenging than it did in 2023.
The opposition ground continues to be fragmented, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Allied Democratic Alliance (ADA) all beset by internal challenges.
At the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu received 8,794,726 votes to beat PDP’s Atiku Abubakar (6,984,520 votes) and LP’s Peter Obi (6,101,533 votes). Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP placed fourth with 1,496,687 votes. The first three secured 12 states, while Kwankwaso secured just Kano.
With Tinubu already being endorsed by the major APC organs for a re-election in 2027, the opposition is still disjointed. Heavyweights like Atiku, Obi, former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and businessperson Olawepo-Hashim are also vying to run. Strong indications are that former President Goodluck Jonathan is also interested in running.
Commentators observe that in 2015, the opposition came together in the fusion of ACN, CPC, ANPP, and a section of APGA, to bring in the APC’s triumph over the then-governing PDP. Today, the same is not true.
PDP Still Grappling with Internal Crises
The PDP, still wounded by its 2015 defeat, also remains beset by intra-party discord. Before its November national convention, a section of the National Working Committee (NWC) and non-stop defections undermined the party cohesion.
Calls by individuals such as Prof. Jerry Gana for Jonathan and Obi to be recalled to the PDP have been met with strong opposition. Presidential candidate Olawepo-Hashim has requested the party hold open primaries, insisting the ticket should be awarded to the strongest candidate and not a “selected favourite.”
Meanwhile, the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike loyal group also pledged to vote for Tinubu’s re-election in second term while staying in the PDP, again opening intra-party divisions.
ADC and Labour Party Also Under Turmoil
ADC cohesion is similarly threatened by a power struggle for control of party structure. Its intra-party squabbles might hamper its performance as part of an umbrella front, cautioned former APC vice chairman Lukman Salihu.
Atiku has ruled out stepping down for the sake of any opposition candidate, with Obi ruling out being a running mate. Though both are said to have signed off on backing whoever candidate they came up with from their coalition summit, doubts still remain among their supporters.
The Labour Party also remains embroiled in a leadership tussle between the Julius Abure faction and the camp led by former Minister of Finance Esther Nenadi Usman, who enjoys the backing of Peter Obi and Abia State governor Alex Otti. Efforts by Obi’s 2023 running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, to reconcile both sides have so far yielded little progress.
With the election year drawing close in 2027, analysts advise that if the opposition parties unite and agree, President Tinubu’s re-election would not encounter strong resistance.
