As the countdown to the 2027 general elections begins, political maneuvering within Nigeria’s major parties is intensifying. Among the most debated topics is the opposition’s strategy—particularly that of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. His approach to coalition building is now under scrutiny, with seasoned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart Segun Sowunmi voicing serious concerns.
Sowunmi, a prominent PDP chieftain, has cautioned Atiku against forming a coalition that sidelines the PDP as its core foundation. According to him, any attempt to construct an alliance that fails to place the party at its center risks collapsing under its own weight.
He pointed to the coalition-building expertise of Bola Ahmed Tinubu—former Lagos State governor and APC leader—as a blueprint Atiku should closely study. Tinubu’s ability to align diverse political entities under one strategic umbrella has been a cornerstone of his enduring political success.
The 2023 general elections provided a clear example. Tinubu masterfully unified multiple interest groups and factions under the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner, a move that ultimately secured the presidency. It’s this level of calculated, inclusive coalition-building that Sowunmi believes is essential if Atiku is to mount a credible challenge in 2027.
Coalitions have long shaped the trajectory of Nigerian electoral politics. The landmark 2015 election saw the APC—then an opposition force—rise to power through a well-orchestrated alliance of parties including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). That alliance played a pivotal role in unseating the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sowunmi’s critique also touches on a broader pattern: repeated failures by opposition parties to form lasting, functional coalitions. These attempts often unravel due to lack of coordination, weak ideological alignment, and mutual distrust—challenges that Atiku must now confront if he hopes to unite Nigeria’s fragmented opposition.
With the PDP still seen as a major political force, Sowunmi believes Atiku must rethink his approach and anchor any coalition effort around the party’s infrastructure and grassroots base. Otherwise, the opposition risks repeating the strategic errors of past election cycles.
The battle for 2027 may be shaped as much by coalition-building prowess as by public sentiment. For Atiku and the PDP, embracing Tinubu’s methodical and inclusive strategy could be the key to shifting Nigeria’s political tide.