Photo File: former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar

Senior Political Aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (GCON), Ademola Olanrewaju, has said that a major political coalition ahead of the next general elections is not only possible but already taking shape.

Olanrewaju stated this while speaking on Frontline, a political programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, themed “Political Reconfiguration of the Opposition Against APC.”

‘COALITION IS A REALITY’

Responding to a question on the feasibility of a coalition among opposition parties, Olanrewaju said the idea was born out of growing dissatisfaction with the performance of the current administration.

“If this is a performing government or one that has delivered on its election promises, it won’t come to place,” he said.
“The coalition is a reality. The premise of the coalition is that more people don’t want this government than the people who want it. In 2023, there were a lot of questions as regards ethnicity and what not. With Peter Obi and Atiku on the same platform, if they can get it right, then the coalition will be able to hold.”

He added that the alliance extends beyond Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, noting that even some members within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are discontent with the administration.

“It’s not just Atiku and Obi; there are elements in the APC uncomfortable with the performance of the president. We have Nasir El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola. The coalition is feasible, but if they will win, it will depend on a lot of factors,” he added.

‘ATIKU AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADC COALITION’

When asked if Atiku Abubakar is now an official member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Olanrewaju clarified that the former vice president has not formally joined but remains a key figure in the new coalition.

“Not officially, but he is at the forefront of the ADC. It is political — the reason he has not joined officially,” he said.
“If you look at how the coalition came about, you’ll see it was carefully planned. The discussions that birthed this coalition had started over a year ago. What is going on now is the intention to confuse those that think they are political masterminds — and you can see that they are confused. The coalition is a reality, and Atiku as well as Peter Obi are members of the ADC.”

‘AMBITION IS A STRENGTH, NOT A WEAKNESS’

Olanrewaju also dismissed suggestions that internal leadership rivalries within the opposition have weakened the credibility of the coalition.

“It is a naive opinion,” he said.
“In politics, everyone has ambitions, and that is not a weakness. What makes us strong is that we have a set of rules we abide by. Ambition is a strength — more people need to have more ambition and join the ADC. Look at the APC; you will discover that the party is shutting the door on so many ambitions.”

He argued that the ADC welcomes diverse political aspirations, unlike the ruling party which he claimed stifles dissent.

“It is a strength to a coalition when everyone has ambition. I think it is a good thing — ambition in the ADC is not a problem but a strength,” he concluded.

Background

Talks of a major opposition coalition have been gaining momentum following rising public discontent with the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy, fuel pricing, and insecurity.

Political observers say the move could reshape Nigeria’s 2027 political landscape, especially if the Atiku–Obi alliance gains traction under a unified platform such as the ADC.

Nigeria’s two main opposition leaders, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, have joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their new political home.

If Atiku runs in 2027, it will mark his third attempt at the presidency and his second consecutive bid for Nigeria’s highest office.

This development represents one of the biggest shake-ups in Nigerian politics since the end of military rule in 1999. Some political heavyweights from Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) have also thrown their weight behind the formation.

The announcement follows months of high-level talks aimed at preventing a repeat of the 2023 election, in which Tinubu won with just 37% of the vote, while Atiku and Obi secured 29% and 25% respectively after opposition votes were split.

At the unveiling of the ADC coalition, interim chairman David Mark described the move as an attempt “to save Nigeria’s democracy and to stop the country from becoming a one-party state.”

Both the PDP and LP are also battling internal crises which some analysts believe were instigated by external influences.

Political analyst Shehu Iliyasu said the new alliance reflects lessons learned from the last election.

“Both Atiku and Obi felt they came so close in 2023 and could have maybe won on a joint ticket, so they want to amend that mistake by working together this time around,” he told the BBC.