2027: ‘Atiku Should Step Down for Obi to Defeat Tinubu’ — Analyst

By Praise Chinecherem

A political affairs analyst, Dr Ambrose Igboke, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to unite behind a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that a divided opposition could hand President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) another victory.

Igboke said a consensus arrangement involving major opposition figures would consolidate their electoral strength, prevent vote splitting and give the opposition a stronger chance of defeating the APC.

Speaking while reacting to reports of ongoing consultations among opposition presidential hopefuls, the analyst identified disunity among opposition parties as one of the major factors that could work in favour of the ruling party.

There have been reports of possible alliances involving Atiku, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obi, who ran on the platform of the Labour Party, and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, alongside other opposition figures.

However, Igboke acknowledged that reaching a consensus could prove difficult because of the national followership and political ambitions of the leading contenders.

He suggested that some aspirants might have to make personal sacrifices for the opposition to present a formidable challenge to Tinubu in 2027.

“I wish that other opposition parties can also come together to present one candidate. That will really give APC a run for its money,” he said.

The analyst argued that the combined electoral strength of the opposition could pose a serious threat to the ruling party if major contenders agreed to support a single candidate.

He noted that the opposition’s performance in the 2023 presidential election demonstrated the potential consequences of having multiple strong candidates contesting against one another.

“As it stands now, the NDC and ADC are still sticking to their guns. If it continues this way, the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu will win even with the slightest margin,” Igboke said.

“In the 2023 elections, the cumulative votes of Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar were higher than those of Tinubu.

“Atiku should support Peter Obi as a consensus candidate. Only then will it be possible for the opposition to win this election,” he added.

Igboke also identified Donald Duke as a possible contender who could make concessions in a consensus arrangement, arguing that, in his assessment, Duke does not command the same level of nationwide political support as Atiku and Obi.

He maintained that the willingness of opposition leaders to prioritise collective electoral success over individual ambitions would be crucial to determining the outcome of the 2027 presidential contest.

Analyst Faults Alleged Use of Public Facility for Partisan Activities

Beyond the opposition’s political calculations, Igboke criticised the alleged use of government-owned premises within the presidential complex for partisan political activities by the ruling party.

He argued that public facilities should not be treated as the private property of whichever political party controls the Federal Government.

According to him, the premises did not belong to the APC or the PDP when the latter was in power, insisting that a change in government should not automatically confer exclusive ownership of public property on the governing party.

He suggested that the facility’s location within the Aso Villa residential area might have contributed to the perception that it was exclusively controlled by the Presidency.

Igboke further argued that if political parties were allowed to use the premises for commercial or partisan purposes, access should be governed by transparent rules that apply fairly to other parties.

He also dismissed security concerns as a sufficient justification for denying opposition parties access, arguing that relevant security agencies could screen participants and enforce appropriate safety measures.

Fuel Discounts Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Energy Crisis — Igboke

On the reported 30-day discount on petrol purchases at NNPC filling stations, the analyst described the measure as a temporary palliative that would not address the underlying problems in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

He urged the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation and efficient operation of the country’s refineries to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and establish a more sustainable domestic supply system.

“The long-term solution is to make refineries work in Nigeria. Rehabilitate the refineries or set them up for productivity, refine the product locally that we use locally,” he said.

Igboke argued that repeated short-term interventions would provide only limited relief unless the government addressed the structural challenges affecting petroleum refining and distribution.

He also expressed concern over the prospect of further petrol price increases and discussions surrounding additional fuel-related taxation, warning that such developments could deepen the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

The analyst called for policies that would deliver lasting relief to households and businesses rather than measures primarily intended to ease public anger temporarily.

He maintained that restoring domestic refining capacity, implementing sustainable economic reforms and ensuring a more reliable supply of petroleum products were essential to addressing Nigeria’s recurring fuel challenges.

As political consultations ahead of 2027 continue, Igboke’s position underscores the growing debate over whether opposition parties can overcome their differences, agree on a common candidate and mount a united challenge to the APC.

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