Political analyst, Jide Ojo, has dismissed the viability of any political coalition centred around former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, calling such a move “dead on arrival.”
Ojo argues that Atiku’s track record—characterised by repeated electoral losses, internal party crises, and unsuccessful alliances—raises doubts about his capacity to unite a formidable opposition capable of posing a credible challenge in future elections.
Recent reports have indicated that allies of Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other prominent figures have reached an agreement to adopt the African Democratic Congress as the coalition’s main platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Multiple sources close to the Atiku and Obi camps, speaking anonymously due to lack of official clearance, told Punch that a significant meeting held on Tuesday night marked progress in formalising the alliance. According to Naija News, the meeting concluded with an agreement to restructure and strengthen the ADC in preparation for the 2027 general elections. Official announcements are expected soon.
However, in an interview with Naija News, Ojo questioned the credibility of any opposition effort that positions Atiku as its figurehead. He asserted that such a strategy lacks the innovation and appeal needed to resonate with the growing population of young voters.
He remarked, “It’s not impossible. But a coalition that will succeed must not be built around Atiku. It will be dead on arrival.”
Ojo elaborated on the selection of the ADC as the coalition’s platform, stating, “What I learned is that they are using the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). ADC has been there since 2019. But it didn’t make any progress. If you go back to 2019, Obasanjo announced that the ADC is the third force, but what impact did it make in 2019? In 2023, the Labour Party (LP) was the third force. But now the gains of 2023 have been eroded by the crisis in the Labour Party.”
He further critiqued the longevity of the ADC leadership, saying, “So, now ADC has a chairman who has been there for 17 years. From what I learned, it’s been recognised by the INEC. And now people want just to use that as a share company to now determine rather than forming a new party, they want to use that as another special purpose vehicle.”
On Atiku’s potential candidacy, Ojo warned that his age and regional background could be major setbacks for the coalition. He stated, “But let me tell you, any coalition that will work, they must first ensure a commitment from Atiku Abubakar to not run in 2027. Inasmuch as the coalition is to favour Atiku, it’s going to be dead on arrival.”
He added, “Because Atiku is about 78 years old and by 2027, he will be 80, and Nigerians are not ready to have somebody who is an octogenarian as president. And more so, the sentiments out there are that the South must do 8 years before it will be opened for the North.”
Ojo concluded by emphasising the importance of generational leadership renewal and southern representation in any future political alliance. “And so, more or less any party that coalition will field has to be a strong candidate from the South. And Atiku is from the North, not from the South. So if Atiku does not announce his retirement from politics early enough, to play the role of a statesman, and they are trying to make the coalition that will now hand over the platform to Atiku for their bid in 2027, it will be dead on arrival,” he said.
