Opposition leaders in Nigeria form alliances to try to eliminate the ruling party in 2027
Lagos, Nigeria (AP) – Nigeria’s leading opposition leaders unveiled a new coalition on Wednesday that they say aims to defeat Africa’s largest democratic ruling party ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The African Democratic Congress League, challenging all the Progressive Congress Party of President Bola Tinubu, is led by Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi, who are both runners-up in the last presidential vote. They join other top figures, including former federal lawmakers and former governors of the ruling party.
“The alliance will prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state,” said Senate President and interim president David Mark, said at the unveiling ceremony in the capital Abuja.
Tinubu is accused of planning to turn Nigeria into a one-party state by allegedly using state mechanisms to convince high-profile politicians to defect from opposition parties to the council.
Although the Nigerian leader denied the allegations, some of his closest allies, including in the ruling party leadership, appear to be supporting it, which has attracted attention from regions with shrinking democratic space.
The battle for the country’s highest work has intensified as several federal lawmakers and state governors have rebelled in recent months, even two years before the next election, and opposition politicians have merged Tinub’s second term.
The new alliance is reminiscent of the alliance that former ruling Democrats in Nigeria defeated the former ruling party in 2015.
As was the case in 2015, many believe that the current government has not fulfilled its main commitment to improve the country’s sick security and economic sectors.
Tinubu’s government has fought against the consequences of unwelcome economic reforms after canceling decades of subsidies and floating the country’s currency. Reforms have triggered an inflation crisis as the country handles attacks by armed groups across the country.
Cheta Nwanze, chief partner of geopolitical consulting firm SBM Intelligence, said there is only one Manchester United opposition group that has the opportunity to disappoint Tinubu in 2027.
“If the opposition splits, you will not be able to remove the current government,” Nwanze said.
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AP’s African Report:
