El-Rufai confirms Coalition with Atiku and Obi to Challenge Tinubu in 2027

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has confirmed a strategic meeting with opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, to form a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming election.

El-Rufai disclosed this during a recent visit to Katsina State, emphasizing that the coalition’s primary objective is to ensure that President Tinubu returns to Lagos, signalling a shift in Nigeria’s political landscape. This development follows a series of high-level discussions among key political figures, including former Attorney General Abubakar Malami and ex-presidential candidate Pastor Tunde Bakare, who are reportedly considering joining the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a platform for the coalition .

The coalition was publicly announced on March 20, 2025, during a press conference at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. Atiku Abubakar, flanked by El-Rufai, Obi’s representative Yunusa Tanko, and former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, condemned President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which led to the suspension of elected officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu. Atiku described the action as unconstitutional and an overreach of presidential powers .

El-Rufai echoed these sentiments, labelling the declaration as “violently unconstitutional and unlawful,” and emphasized that such actions undermine Nigeria’s democratic principles.

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While the coalition has garnered support from various opposition figures, including former governors and political stakeholders, some have expressed scepticism about its viability. Former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau dismissed the coalition as a mere gathering of individuals with presidential ambitions, lacking a structured political framework .

Despite such criticisms, El-Rufai remains optimistic, asserting that the coalition does not require the backing of state governors to succeed. He emphasized that the coalition aims to provide a genuine alternative to the electorate, rejecting what he termed as the “spent force” of the PDP and the APC, which have been plagued by internal crises .As the 2027 elections approach, the coalition’s ability to unite opposition forces and present a formidable challenge to President Tinubu’s administration remains to be seen.

Political analysts will be closely monitoring developments in the coming months to assess the coalition’s impact on Nigeria’s political landscape.