2027: The Anti-Tinubu Coalition on Newspaper Pages
By Habeeb Bello Chikaji
It started with a media blitz about former governor Nasir Elrufai “dumping APC” for Social Democratic Party(SDP). This was followed by prurient rumour about a superb coalition for 2027. Since then, the word ” coalition” has dominated Nigeria’s democratic space. Each day opens with emergency political analysts dropping names of prominent Nigerians purportedly warming up for the largest opposition parties’ “Coalition”. One by one, most of the so-called bigwigs whose names were dropped as the pillar of the coalition flatly denied the media reports with strongly-worded press statements; with the latest coming from former Senate President – Dr. Ahmed Lawan.
Amid the media frenzy over a so-called opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 elections, the truth remains stark: this coalition is nothing but a manufactured illusion, a desperate propaganda stunt designed to create a mirage of strength where none exists. The PDP, Labour Party (LP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) are being packaged as a united front against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but reality exposes a different picture—one of bickering, infighting, and a complete lack of strategy.
PDP’s House is on Fire—No Unity, No Direction
Far from forging an alliance, the PDP is battling internal sabotage. Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has publicly exposed how some PDP heavyweights are already in Tinubu’s camp, ensuring the party remains weak. Samuel Ortom, a key PDP figure, has openly declared his willingness to support Tinubu in 2027, just as Nyesom Wike has already done. With leaders jumping ship and backdoor deals in play, how does a fragmented PDP intend to lead a coalition?
Even within the party, power tussle is at an all-time high. The National Working Committee (NWC) is accusing Lamido and other elders of undermining the party, further proving that the PDP is in no shape to form a solid opposition—let alone rally other parties against Tinubu.
Labour Party and SDP: Mere Spectators in the Game
While the PDP fights itself, the Labour Party remains an unstable, one-man political vehicle. Its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is caught between returning to the PDP or keeping LP alive for personal ambition. The SDP, on the other hand, has no real electoral weight, making its role in this so-called coalition irrelevant.
Even the attempt to rope in key APC figures into this alliance is falling flat. Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan has reaffirmed his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing recent speculations about his defection to the Social Democratic Party as “entirely false, baseless, and without any merit.” This further shatters the illusion of a broad coalition, exposing it as mere wishful thinking by opposition propagandists.
Media’s Manufactured Coalition: A Flimsy Anti-Tinubu Smokescreen
What we are witnessing is a classic case of media manipulation—an attempt to sell Nigerians a fictional anti-Tinubu movement when, in truth, no real coalition exists. The same media that hyped Peter Obi’s “unstoppable” 2023 momentum—only for him to crash at the polls—is back at it, trying to stir false hope in an opposition that doesn’t even trust itself.
The 2027 race is not shaping up to be a coalition battle; it is looking more like a free ride for Tinubu as his opponents remain lost in disarray. Nigerians should see through the lies—there is no alliance, no grand opposition, just recycled political actors grasping at straws while Tinubu fortifies his hold on power.
