As Nigeria gradually approaches the 2027 general elections, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is facing increasing political resistance from within his own party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly from key figures once loyal to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The deepening cracks within the ruling party are now manifesting as some of Buhari’s closest allies realign with opposition forces, raising questions about the future of APC’s internal cohesion and Tinubu’s second-term prospects.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, and former APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun have all reportedly gravitated toward a new coalition, using the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a political platform.
The group has controversially installed former Senate President David Mark as interim national chairman of the ADC and appointed former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as secretary. The coalition is said to also enjoy the backing of prominent opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar, Sule Lamido, and Aminu Tambuwal, among others.
This development underscores what observers describe as a widening rift within the APC, a party founded in 2013 as a merger of Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Though successful in securing power in 2015, the alliance was always seen as fragile.
In 2023, Tinubu realized what he called his “lifelong ambition” by emerging as President despite intense internal resistance, a controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket, and a turbulent campaign period marked by currency redesign issues and public scrutiny over his health. He lost in three key northern states—Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina—but ultimately secured the presidency.
However, relations with El-Rufai, once a northern political ally, have deteriorated. After being nominated for a cabinet position, El-Rufai was dropped following a security report. He has since joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and is reportedly spearheading the broader anti-Tinubu coalition.
“Forgive me for bringing this evil Tinubu to power in 2023. It won’t happen again in 2027. The guy is gone,” El-Rufai reportedly told supporters in a viral video from May.
Despite the apparent momentum of the coalition, questions remain about its unity and legitimacy. Dumebi Kachikwu, the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, has dismissed the coalition’s leadership as illegitimate, claiming they are working with expired party officials. “The coalition is dealing with people whose tenure expired in 2022. We are watching with amusement,” Kachikwu said.
Meanwhile, Tinubu retains support from some factions within Buhari’s political base. Members of the defunct CPC bloc within the APC, operating under the Forum of CPC Stakeholders, recently met in Abuja to reaffirm their loyalty to the president. Those present or represented included Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas; Governors Dikko Radda of Katsina and Umar Bago of Niger; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maitama Tuggar; Senator Tanko Al-Makura; former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari; and NDLEA Chairman, General Buba Marwa (retd).
Responding to questions about continued support for President Tinubu, Hon. Farouk Adamu said, “We are with Tinubu just like our leader (Buhari), and secondly, it is our conviction that Tinubu will continue to be our candidate in 2027.”
Though the anti-Tinubu bloc seeks to recreate the 2015 coalition that unseated a sitting president, the political terrain has shifted. Tinubu, regarded as a master strategist with decades of political maneuvering, is said to be in talks with northern political and traditional leaders, and may be considering major moves—including possibly dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima in favour of Rabiu Kwankwaso.
As both camps consolidate and reposition, 2027 promises to be another pivotal chapter in Nigeria’s political journey.
Key Buhari Loyalists and Associates in the ADC Coalition:
* Rotimi Amaechi
* Abubakar Malami
* Hadi Sirika
* Rauf Aregbesola
* Kashim Imam
* Chief John Odigie Oyegun
