Nigeria’s key opposition leaders on Wednesday announced a new coalition aimed at unseating the ruling party ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.
The Africa Democratic Congress coalition is led by Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi, both runners-up in the last presidential vote.
Joining them are former federal lawmakers and ex-governors, including defectors from President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the unveiling in Abuja, David Mark, former Senate president and interim chairman, said the alliance will prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state.
Tinubu faces accusations of using state power to lure opposition politicians into his party, a claim he denies amid growing concerns over democratic erosion.
Despite the denials, defections to the ruling party have surged, intensifying the battle for Nigeria’s top job two years ahead of the elections.
The coalition echoes the 2015 alliance that ended the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party, signaling strong opposition unity.
Many Nigerians criticize Tinubu’s administration for failing to improve security and economic conditions as promised during his first term.
The government’s removal of fuel subsidies and currency floating have sparked inflation, worsening hardships amid rising attacks by armed groups.
Cheta Nwanze, a geo-political expert, stressed that only a united opposition can successfully challenge Tinubu’s government in 2027.
“You cannot remove a sitting government if the opposition is disunited,” Nwanze said, highlighting the stakes in Nigeria’s unfolding political drama.
As the nation watches closely, the 2027 elections promise a fierce contest with democracy and governance hanging in the balance.
