Top political heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, met in Abuja over the weekend in what is seen as a major step toward forming a grand opposition coalition against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
Held at the Abuja Continental Hotel under the platform of the National Political Consultative Group (North), the meeting drew a diverse crowd of political leaders cutting across party lines. Attendees included former SGF Babachir Lawal, ex-Imo Governor Achike Udenwa, Datti Baba-Ahmed, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, ex-Foreign Affairs Minister Aminu Wali, and other prominent Northern leaders.
Sources say the meeting focused on creating a unified political force capable of mobilizing grassroots support across the 36 states. The North is taking the lead, with each state submitting 40–100 names of seasoned political actors expected to serve as coordinators and coalition point-men.
Discussions also touched on whether to adopt an existing party or create a new platform to house the alliance, as well as on strategies to counter APC dominance through grassroots mobilization and broader regional collaboration.
Notably, some influential APC figures from the North, reportedly unhappy with Tinubu’s governance, were also present—raising eyebrows about deepening cracks within the ruling party.
The meeting comes shortly after the APC formally endorsed Tinubu as its sole candidate for 2027, a move that has sparked debate about internal democracy within the party.
The coalition hopes to also bring in smaller political parties, harmonize regional interests, and mount international pressure to ensure free and fair elections in 2027.
Another meeting is reportedly being planned in the South to incorporate opposition structures from the Southeast and South-South.
With increasing dissatisfaction over Tinubu’s economic policies and insecurity, opposition leaders see 2027 as a winnable battle—if they can stay united.
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