Fresh developments have emerged regarding ongoing political negotiations between former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, with indications that both politicians are making progress towards a possible alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The proposed partnership is expected to form part of efforts by opposition politicians to build a formidable political force capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress at the next general election.
Individuals familiar with the discussions disclosed that representatives of Atiku and Makinde had held several meetings in recent weeks, with both camps reportedly making concessions towards reaching a mutually acceptable agreement, according to Politics Nigeria.
The negotiations are said to be progressing positively, raising expectations that the two politicians could eventually work together in 2027.
According to a report by Punch, the discussions between Atiku and Makinde are being conducted separately from wider consultations involving opposition leaders seeking to establish a coalition and agree on a common presidential candidate against Tinubu.
Makinde has consistently emerged as one of the prominent opposition voices critical of the current administration and has supported initiatives aimed at bringing opposition politicians together ahead of the 2027 elections.
As part of those efforts, the Oyo governor hosted an opposition summit at the Government House in Ibadan on April 25, where political leaders deliberated on the possibility of fielding a consensus presidential candidate to challenge the APC.
Nevertheless, the broader coalition initiative has continued to face difficulties, particularly over the presidential ambitions of leading opposition figures, including Atiku, Makinde and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. Their individual political interests have remained a major consideration in efforts to reach a common position.
Despite the challenges, Makinde recently acknowledged that he was holding consultations with prominent opposition figures, including Atiku and Obi, as discussions over possible political cooperation gathered momentum.
During an interview with Arise News on Friday, the governor suggested that the outcome of the ongoing engagements would determine whether the politicians would eventually contest against one another or form an alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
“Depending on what we see between now and the election time, we may be rivals; we may be collaborators. One may be the client of the other,” Makinde said.
However, fresh accounts from individuals familiar with the Atiku-Makinde negotiations indicate that the proposed partnership may be closer to becoming a reality than previously suggested.
A South-West leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) expressed confidence that the discussions would eventually result in a political understanding between the former vice-president and the Oyo governor.
The party chieftain characterised the negotiations as a new but purposeful engagement, expressing optimism that both politicians were making meaningful progress and could soon publicly communicate their decision.
Asked when an official announcement might be made, the ADC leader offered a light-hearted response, saying, “before January 16.”
Similarly, a candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who is familiar with Makinde’s political activities, indicated that the governor was likely to align with Atiku in the 2027 presidential election.
The politician disclosed that representatives of the two camps had participated in several engagements, both online and in person, over the past few weeks, adding that the discussions had produced encouraging results.
“The available information is that the Atiku and Makinde alliance is very possible, and it is taking shape. A series of meetings, both virtual and physical, have been held in the last few weeks, and they are fruitful,” he said.
He further suggested that the negotiations had reached an advanced stage, with both sides reportedly agreeing to certain compromises ahead of an expected public announcement.
“What is on the ground shows that both parties have reached compromises and they are going to unveil that very soon,” the APM candidate stated.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, acknowledged that Makinde was participating in consultations with opposition stakeholders, although he stopped short of confirming that a formal agreement had been reached with Atiku.
Oyelade described the politicians involved in the engagements as experienced political actors “who know the vagaries of contemporary politics, especially as they relate to the Tinubu issues.”
He maintained that Makinde was open to collaborating with other opposition groups and political leaders, provided such cooperation offered a credible pathway towards addressing the country’s economic difficulties and improving the living conditions of Nigerians.
“As far as Governor Seyi Makinde is concerned, he is not averse to working directly with other opposition tendencies as long as there’s light at the end of the tunnel to end the unequalled sufferings of the masses, because he believes that the level of renewed poverty is absolutely needless,” the commissioner said.
Despite the reported progress, details of the proposed political arrangement have not been made public. It remains uncertain how the two camps intend to address critical issues, including the presidential ticket, power-sharing considerations and the respective political interests of the parties involved.
Separately, the ADC has confirmed that consultations among opposition parties are continuing as political stakeholders explore opportunities for cooperation ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed that the discussions involved several opposition platforms and were not limited to any particular individual or political organisation.
“All opposition parties are still talking. And it’s never too late,” Abdullahi wrote in a WhatsApp message to the newspaper.
Atiku’s political camp also acknowledged that the former vice-president was engaging with opposition leaders as part of broader efforts to establish a united front capable of challenging the APC.
His Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, explained that the consultations were driven by the need to unite opposition stakeholders around a common objective and offer Nigerians an alternative to the present administration.
“We are engaging with leaders across the opposition in the shared interest of Nigeria. Together, we will do everything necessary to restore responsible leadership, make life affordable for Nigerians and put our country back on the right path,” Shaibu said.
However, neither Abdullahi nor Shaibu directly confirmed reports that Atiku and Makinde had concluded negotiations or reached a binding political agreement.
The reported discussions are unfolding against the backdrop of increasing political realignments among opposition figures seeking to develop a coordinated strategy against the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election, scheduled for January 16, 2027.
A significant obstacle confronting the opposition remains the difficulty of reconciling the ambitions of influential political figures and determining who would emerge as the preferred candidate to lead a possible coalition.
Although Atiku, Makinde and Obi have participated in various consultations, their individual presidential aspirations have continued to complicate attempts to establish a consensus arrangement acceptable to all major stakeholders.
In a related development, the G-100, an opposition coalition-building initiative convened by former Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman, has intensified efforts to facilitate cooperation among political parties and influential opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections.
The group has reportedly engaged Atiku, Obi, Makinde and other prominent political actors in consultations aimed at building a broad-based coalition around a common political platform and a single presidential candidate.
The initiative maintains that opposition parties would struggle to mount an effective challenge against the ruling APC if they approach the election separately rather than combine their political structures and resources.
Nevertheless, persistent disagreements over political leadership, presidential ambitions and the distribution of political interests continue to raise questions about whether the opposition will successfully establish a united coalition before the 2027 presidential contest.
