2027 Election: Obidients Insist Peter Obi Must Lead Coalition Against Tinubu

By Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, Political Correspondent | Legit.ng

Key Points:

• Obidient movement rejects any 2027 coalition without Peter Obi as presidential candidate
• Supporters argue Atiku should support Obi or step aside completely
• Opposition coalition faces internal challenges in bid to unseat Tinubu

Obi or Nothing: Obidients Draw Line in the Sand

Members of Nigeria’s Obidient movement have declared they will not participate in any opposition coalition for the 2027 presidential election unless Peter Obi leads the ticket. This stance comes as political alignments begin forming to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s potential reelection bid.

According to Vanguard reports, the Labour Party campaign structure maintains that any coalition arrangement without Obi as standard-bearer would be “dead on arrival.” This position creates potential complications for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is reportedly leading coalition talks among opposition parties.

“Atiku should either consider being Obi’s running mate or completely step aside and support Obi wholeheartedly,” said Jonathan Ajere, an Obidient supporter. “Any attempt to field a northern candidate when the South hasn’t completed its eight years will be counter-productive.”

Southern Candidate or Tinubu’s Advantage

Obidient supporters argue that fielding a northern candidate like Atiku would virtually guarantee Tinubu’s reelection. They maintain that Obi, as a southern candidate with nationwide appeal, represents the strongest chance to defeat the incumbent.

Samuel Ajayi, another Obidient member, suggested reversing the 2019 ticket arrangement: “If we’ve done Atiku/Obi and it didn’t work, why can’t we do Obi/Atiku? Peter Obi remains the most inspiring candidate to unseat Tinubu.”

Coalition Challenges Emerge

The opposition coalition reportedly led by Atiku has already faced internal dissent, particularly from some PDP governors. Salihu Lukman, a coalition spokesperson, maintains that unity among opposition parties is crucial to defeating the APC and rescuing Nigeria’s democracy.

Political analysts suggest the coalition’s success will depend on maintaining internal cohesion, appealing to a broad voter base, and effectively challenging the incumbent government’s policies and performance.

Source: Legit.ng