Nigeria’s opposition leaders are meeting in Abuja as they intensify efforts to form a strong coalition against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The major challenge, however, remains internal division and competing presidential ambitions among the opposition leaders.
The article highlights Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Seyi Makinde as key figures whose individual political interests could make it difficult to produce a single consensus candidate.
It argues that previous opposition victories, particularly the 2015 election that ended the PDP’s 16-year rule, were aided not only by opposition unity but also by divisions within the ruling party and public dissatisfaction with government.
Despite economic hardship, poverty and growing public discontent, Tinubu and the APC remain politically strong, benefiting from the advantages of incumbency and extensive political structures.
Another major issue is the North-South power-sharing debate. With Tinubu being a southerner and completing his first term, southern expectations of an eight-year presidency could influence the opposition’s choice of candidate, while northern support remains crucial to winning the presidency.
The ongoing G100 meeting is therefore expected to focus on creating a framework for negotiating a consensus candidate, rather than immediately selecting one.