In a significant political development, Nigeria’s leading opposition figures—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso—are reportedly in discussions about forming a potential merger ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The trio, who were key contenders in the previous elections, are considering joining forces to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The discussions come in response to growing concerns about widespread hunger and insecurity in the country, which the opposition leaders believe require urgent and unified action. Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), revealed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Monday.
Abdullahi emphasized that the three leaders—Atiku of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)—are willing to set aside their personal ambitions to form a strong coalition. The goal of this coalition would be to challenge the APC in 2027 and “rescue Nigerians from hunger” and other pressing issues.
Reflecting on past internal conflicts within the PDP, Abdullahi expressed regret that key figures like Kwankwaso, Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike had left the party. He suggested that if these leaders had remained in the PDP, they could have contributed to a victory over Tinubu in the last election.
Abdullahi confirmed that ongoing discussions aim to bring Obi, Kwankwaso, Wike, and others back into the fold, creating a united front for the 2027 elections. He noted that the party has learned valuable lessons from its past mistakes and is now focused on ensuring that it presents a strong, unified challenge to the APC.
According to Abdullahi, the primary concern for the PDP and the opposition leaders is the well-being of Nigerians. He stressed that their individual ambitions would take a back seat to the larger goal of addressing the country’s challenges. “Atiku is saying if it is better for him to get Nigeria out of this hopelessness, he would do so,” Abdullahi stated, adding that all three leaders are open to supporting whoever is best positioned to lead the coalition.
The ongoing merger talks signal a strategic shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, with the potential to significantly impact the 2027 presidential election. As these discussions progress, the country will be watching closely to see whether this alliance can challenge the dominance of the APC and offer a viable alternative to the current administration.