A presidential aide has claimed that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, faces a dilemma as the emerging opposition coalition allegedly wants him as a vice presidential candidate while he seeks the presidency.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made this assertion during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday, offering his perspective on the potential internal conflicts within the opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.
The coalition, which has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform to challenge Tinubu’s re-election bid, brings together several prominent political figures including Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and other notable politicians seeking to unseat the incumbent administration.
Currently, the political landscape shows multiple presidential aspirants within the opposition ranks, with Obi, Atiku, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi all indicating their intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Onanuga specifically cautioned Obi against accepting a joint ticket arrangement with Atiku, suggesting that such a move would significantly diminish the passionate support base that propelled his 2023 campaign. Onanuga claimed that Obi’s supporters, who demonstrated remarkable loyalty during his previous run, would not transfer the same enthusiasm to a ticket where their preferred candidate occupies the secondary position.
“If Peter Obi allies with Atiku in 2027, he will not get the blind followership he received in 2023; it will not happen because he wants to be president and they want him to be Vice President,” Onanuga stated during the television interview.
The presidential aide’s assertions reveal what he perceives as the delicate balance of power within the opposition coalition, where competing presidential ambitions could potentially undermine the alliance’s effectiveness against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite acknowledging the various political calculations and strategic permutations being considered by the opposition, Onanuga expressed confidence in the APC’s ability to retain power. “That is why when I look at it, they are just trying their luck, trying all kinds of permutations but the APC will still be in power in 2027,” he declared.
The opposition coalition’s adoption of the ADC represents a significant development in Nigeria’s political landscape, as it brings together former rivals under a single platform. However, the apparent disagreement over the presidential ticket arrangement could pose challenges to the alliance’s unity and effectiveness in mounting a credible challenge to Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
As the 2027 elections approach, the resolution of this leadership question within the opposition ranks will likely determine whether the coalition can present a united front or fracture along the lines of individual political ambitions.
