The Presidency has dismissed the recent alliance formed by opposition leaders to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, describing it as lacking political strength and clear vision for Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday during an appearance on *Channels Television’s Morning Brief*, the Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication, Daniel Bwala, said that key figures in the coalition—former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi—do not possess the political influence necessary to defeat Tinubu at the polls.
Bwala characterized the opposition leaders as “internally displaced politicians” in search of relevance.
“They are just an association of wild goose chasers, consisting of internally displaced politicians forming a dead on arrival party. They are politicians seeking relevance, and they do not have any vision for the country,” Bwala stated.
The remarks come in response to a recent political realignment involving notable opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, among others. The group has coalesced in a bid to unseat President Tinubu in the next election cycle.
Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, confirmed his participation in the coalition and reaffirmed the group’s objective of mounting a serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement posted Thursday on his official X handle, Obi said the coalition’s success hinges on unity and collaboration across political divides.
“No one group can change Nigeria alone. To dismantle the structures that keep our people in poverty and insecurity, we must build bridges, not walls, even when those bridges are uneasy,” Obi wrote.
He also announced the formal adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the platform under which the coalition will contest the 2027 elections, with Senator David Mark named as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
“Our commitment is to sacrifice and work together towards the 2027 general elections, ensuring that Nigeria gets a competent, capable, and compassionate leadership that will prioritise the country’s future by putting the welfare of Nigerians first,” Obi added.
He emphasized that the decision was made after careful reflection and represents a unified effort to redirect Nigeria’s political trajectory.
