Nigerian politicians are getting ready for the 2027 presidential election, and the opposition is determined to challenge President Bola Tinubu, just like he led the charge to dismiss the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.
In a show of political unity, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), publicly announced their meeting last week.
“It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often had, particularly we in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and for the country’s interest,” Atiku Said following the meeting with Obi.
Admitting to the possibility of upstaging the APC, he said:
“Yes, it’s very much possible. We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible and nothing can stop it if we so wish to achieve that.”
This was done to boost the morale of the disheartened opposition. However, sources reveal that this was not their first meeting since the election, despite what their publicists have said.
It is reported that the two leaders have met at least four times, including a meeting in Dubai, as part of their efforts to form a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Interestingly, a prominent supporter of Tinubu within the PDP managed to weaken the opposition party by participating in the party’s National Caucus meeting last month and echoing the president’s messages of renewed hope.
This engagement between Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and their allies aims to create a mega party, possibly in response to external pressures that seek to destabilize the two major political parties.