Anti-Tinubu coalition: Atiku, Obi, others shop for platform

The coalition of opposition parties seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections is still grappling with crucial decisions on the format and political platform to adopt.

According to DAILY POST, a significant announcement is expected this week barring any last-minute changes. However, internal deliberations have yet to yield a consensus on the coalition’s structure or the political party under which it will contest.

Key opposition figures present at Sunday’s meeting included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former SGF Babachir Lawal, and a representative of former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Others are Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; former Cross River State governor, Mr Donald Duke; former Information Minister, Professor Jerry Gana; and some northern stakeholders.

Recall that the meeting was, however, thrown into turmoil after delegates from Jigawa State disrupted proceedings.

The meeting, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel and convened by the National Political Consultative Group, North, was abruptly interrupted, following a heated disagreement regarding representation for Jigawa State.

While some stakeholders argued in favour of a fresh platform, others argued in favour of fusing into an existing party.

The convener of the League of Northern Democrats, LND, Umar Ardo, announced the group’s resolution to support the National Opposition Coalition Group in 2027.

A new twist was, however, added to the ongoing negotiations, with conflicting kits being flown by the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Ralphs Nwosu, who empathically announced that the ADC had been chosen and agreed upon as the platform.

His comments which were followed by those of the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, to the effect that he would be contesting on the LP platform, are said to have jolted some coalition stakeholders.

(DailyPost)