Headline

2027: Where’s Peter Obi in the Coalition?

Published

1 year ago

June 24, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

With increasing dissatisfaction among Nigerians of all strata following the concensus dismal performance of the President Bola Tinubu-led government in two years, tangible evidence is in the air regarding a replay of the 2013 alliance that flushed out the government of President Goodluck Jonathan later in 2015. Incidentally, Tinubu himself was an integral part of the alliance that later came to be known as the All Progressives Congress (APC). Presently, he is the victim of what is coming as a result of the rudderless administration the president has supervised in two years.

The Tinubu situation seems worse than what was obtained in 2013 when Jonathan was was conspired against, and voted out. Then the economy was remarkably okay as the biggest in Africa; the naira was standing tall against the dollar in the international market and the populace did business without sweat among many other socio-economic indices that gave the administration a clean bill of health. Yet, a coalition of dissatisfied persons, kicked him out.

The development to kick Tinubu out in 2027 comes amid growing public discourse on the ineffectiveness of the current administration, barefaced hunger and the viability of a united opposition front ahead of the next general elections. This is even as over five million Nigerians are added to the poverty bracket on a yearly basis.

To this end, the much touted coalition of stakeholders with the interest of restoring diligence, dignity, open government and prosperity of the people is in the works, and may finally see the light of the day, in a move to be described as a return of electoral hope, if collaborative efforts being put together is anything to by.

The Opposition Coalition Group, a meeting point of some of the best brains of Nigeria’s economic and political terrain boasts of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, former Kogi State governor Captain Idris Wada; former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), former Senate president and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; the Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed; a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali; a former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; a former All Progressives Congress’ national vice chairman (North), Salihu Lukman; Senator Ben Obi and a former Minister of Youth Development, Bolaji Abdullahi, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd), Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo, former Jigawa State governor, Suleman Lamido, former Jigawa Deputy governor, Ahmed Mahmud Gumel, convener of the League of Northern Democrats and former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Umar Ardo; Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Public Affairs, Aliyu Audu, who confessed that he resigned to work against Tinubu, former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola and many more Nigerians from across the geopolitical regions.

As at the moment, Nigerians have never had it so bad, strolling aimlessly in Tinubu’s era of policies not deeply thought about, and policies somersaulting against a pole vault of kindergarten decisions. These have have opened floodgates of hardship, insecurity, suffering, killings and directionless movement for both the leaders and the led. It’s even worse that after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which even the APC admitted was clueless, Tinubu has again plunged Nigeria into the abyss of uncertainty, pains, agony and untold sorrow. In 2 years, electricity tariffs have more than doubled, the high cost of fuel has shut down small and medium scale enterprises just as multinational companies continue to exit in droves since Tinubu took over power.

Today, Nigerians call for a genuine change as this is not the best of times for the nation and its populace. Consequently, the drums of the 2027 presidential election have begun to beat and sound louder, prompting interested stakeholders to put finishing touches to gain vantage position towards recording a fruitful outing, and boot the administrationof Bola Tinubu out.

A statement signed by one of the leaders of the coalition, Salih Lukman, summarized the intent and purpose of Nigerians rising with one voice to take back their nation while offering advice to as many that are yet to make up their minds in joining.

The statement read in part, “For the avoidance of doubt, the coalition is fundamentally about rebuilding Nigerian democracy. Leaders of the coalition recognise this and, more importantly, recognise all the challenges ahead. Resolving these challenges and building the confidence of Nigerians is about restoring the value of political negotiations as critical and fundamental to guaranteeing the survival of democracy. Over the years, both the PDP and APC have demonstrated contempt for political negotiations and, to that extent, disrespected agreements in various ways.

“For more than ten years that the PDP had been out of power, Nigerians had waited for the party to dust itself up and provide the viable opposition that Nigeria needs. Instead, the party went into suspended animation until the rampaging Tinubu-led APC found a willing undertaker to finally put it to rest. The governors know that the virus that afflicts the PDP has no cure. They are only grandstanding. They know that Nigerians cannot accept this PDP as the alternative because it is clear to all discerning Nigerians that the ruling party has hijacked its soul.

“Nyesom Wike is the untouchable super minister in Asiwaju’s government, not because of the sterling job he is doing in the FCT, but because he has done a great job of ensuring that the PDP is not able to present a presidential candidate to challenge Tinubu for power in 2027. However, with the growing coalition, that mandate has been adjusted in recent weeks. The new agenda is to revive the PDP to stand as a counterforce to the coalition, and present a candidate that would split the vote in 2027. This PDP Governor’s Forum is wittingly or unwittingly playing Asiwaju’s spoiler game, and they expect Nigerians to take them seriously.

“The survival of Nigeria and the future of democracy largely depend on how political actors seek to reverse this ugly reality. This is what leaders of the coalition have been painstakingly working on. The coalition is working hard to finalise negotiations towards unveiling the coalition, along with its structure, and programme of action for rescuing Nigeria. The expectation is that all political actors, including leaders of the PDP, would recognise the danger facing the country and join the coalition as a necessary and perhaps strongest response towards rebuilding Nigerian democracy. This has not happened. However, even as the PDP Governors and some leaders of PDP express opposition to joining the coalition, we extend hands of fellowship to all political actors in the country to join us to rescue Nigerian democracy.”

Lending credence to the coalition, and it’s component, Atiku informed that “We have a coalition. All the major political parties are involved. In this coalition — the APC, PDP, Labour Party — all of us are involved. That is the way to go in confronting such an incompetent and inefficient government,” Atiku said.

These men, who have come to team up to restore parity in living conditions among Nigerians, have continued to meet, holding talks on talks in readiness to formally announced the next line of action for the next democratic dispensation.

But a Peter Obi has so far remained elusive as his stand in the coalition is still to be made public.

The desire of the nation towards the birthing of the much awaited platform under which the coalition will launch its quest to retrieve power from the ruling party led to a report about a certain application to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the registration of a new political party, called All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

Denying connection with ADA, Atiku, through his media aide, Demola Olarenwaju, debunked the viral media claims, saying no such decision has been made.

“A group is in the process of pursuing party registration, just like any other Nigerian, but they need to coordinate this with the coalition,” Olarenwaju said in a statement posted on his verified X handle.

“ADA has not been adopted by the coalition, and when the time is right, the public will be informed about the appropriate choices and decisions. Just be patient with that.”

However, much as the information has turned out to be unconnected to the coalition, it is still incumbent on coalition leaders to decide the platform to pursue the next stage of plans to wrest power from the APC and Tinubu. This is where the name of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, Mr Peter Obi, who has been consistently missing in the buildup, comes to play.

Questions have been raised regarding where the former governor of Anambra State is in the new plan to unseat President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. Many has wondered at the silence of the leader of the third force of Nigeria political parties, and arguably leader of the most outspoken movement in Nigeria presently, the Obidient Movement, asking if he wants to go it all alone.

Reports reaching The Boss have it that the members of the coalition seek to leverage on the vocal public dissatisfaction of the Tinubu-led government, thereby realigning politically to prevent the reelection of President Tinubu in 2027.

But public opinion has been rife and divided as to the eloquent absence of Peter Obi. A section of Nigerians, resonated by the voice of a public analyst, who prefers anonymity, has said that if Obi decides to go all alone in the quest to win back Aso Rock from Tinubu, and for the Nigerian people, the adventure will be as good as dead on arrival.

“Obi, going on this adventure alone is as good as giving back power to Tinubu, this time on a platter of gold as no one has the capacity to unseat the president individually, given the present political emasculated status of the opposition, the source said.

He hinted on why the coalition is silent on the leader of Kwakwansiyya group, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, noting that though he commands an amount of respect in the North, especially his home-base, Kano, but he is not as effective as Peter Obi in the equilibrium.

“Yes, most people are talking about Kwakwanso, but he is not as big in stature as Obi, but be that as it may, if Obi or whoever is not interested in the coalition agenda, the same is allowed to exercise his right as he deem fit. But the truth is; the train is ready to move with or without any member of the coalition,” he said.

It would be recalled that a recent opinion poll conducted by the former Kaduna State governor, revealed that 70 per cent of respondents are in support of the coalition, giving it the needed tonic forge ahead in its quest to claim the presidential seat.

Major proponents of the coalition has noted that both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party are not in the best state of health to contend against an incumbent, but that only a combined force of parties in a coalition that can make the exercise. They reasoned that with the massive exodus of office holders affiliated to both the PDP and LP defecting to the APC including the two governors of Delta and Akwa Ibom states with their entire Party structure, the stakes are no longer high for any Party to stand on its own against the APC and Tinubu in 2027.

“The PDP is a spent force. It is a party targeted for destruction, and, frankly, it has almost succeeded,” El-Rufai was once quoted as saying.

The Labour Party, at the moment is rudderless as its authentic leadership is still unknown, the Supreme Court notwithstanding.

“This therefore, is the reason Peter Obi must not attempt to go alone in the quest for the presidency,” the source further elucidated.

But for those, who have dismissed the coalition as a northern agenda, a former political adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has come out to refute the claims.

He has opposed the narrative that northern political leaders ‘gang up’ to create coalitions each time a Southerner is in power while speaking on Arise Television on Monday.

Baba-Ahmed, who recently resigned from his role, clarified that the alliance, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, is not a northern-centric initiative.

Maintaining that alliances and coalitions are not new in Nigeria, Baba-Ahmed said “There are southerners involved in this talk about coalitions, too. You know, Governor Rotimi Amaechi is there, and the former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, is there. There are a lot of people from the southern part of the country.

“They love the south too, they don’t want to be second to the north. They are there. It’s not every time that when a southerner is there, there have always been talks about coalitions,” he said.

Again, the coalition’s resolve is stronger in occupying Aso Rock in 2027 as the house of APC is presently experiencing a much anticipated implosion as there are divisions regarding the retention of Vice President Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate.

In Gombe State recently, during an APC North East stakeholders forum, a major crisis ensued as speakers at the forum endorsed the candidacy of Tinubu while remaining silent on the Shettima, who is from the region. The move did not go down well with the North East stakeholders, who staged a violent protest, physically manhandling national officers of the party, including the National Chairman, Umar Ganduje. The aftermath of the crisis has led to mild enmity between Shettima and Ganduje on one hand, and the North East APC and the rest of APC on the other hand.

It would be recalled that Shettima shunned Ganduje at a public function during the weekend. Observers say it is not unconnected to the events involving the dropping of his name during endorsement.

“The problems cropping up in the APC recently is just the fulfillment of a prophecy long foretold. APC has long been using federal might to terrorise the opposition; now is their own time to face the prophesied implosion that may see to its quick end. As it stands today, Tinubu, Shettima and Ganduje may have drawn their battle lines, and followers may tag behind as they deem fit,” he added.

Since the advent of the APC government two years ago, exactly on May 29, 2023, the people of Nigeria have had to grapple with advanced hardship with cost of living going far and beyond the reach of the average citizen including the very rich. This is anchored on the policies and reforms of the administration, especially the removal of Petroleum subsidy and floating of the naira.

The APC has however, defended thier policies as yielding fruits, making continuous promises that the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel will soon be visible. Nigerians have dismissed the excuses as grandstanding and lost of ideas in tackling the challenges facing the nation.

The coalition has promised that they have what it takes, and more t9 restore dignity to the man on the street come 2027. But, it appears Peter Obi is the missing link in the happy ever after story of the coalition.

Headline

Parties’ Deregistration: ADC, Not NDC, is the Target

Published

2 days ago

June 29, 2026

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

As the 2027 presidential election draws closer, intrigues, manipulations and maneuvers have continued to be the order of the day as political parties engage in one gimmick or another to outdo and undo one another.

While some are playing politics of numbers and conviction, others are engaging tendencies that tend to question the status quo and established principles under which genuine democracy is formed. As a matter of fact, fingers have been pointed at the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal government as the brain behind all machinations that have attempted to derail multi-party democracy, and institute a one-party state, which is alien to the Nigerian democratic roots. This is as a result of the constant imbroglio that has consistently engulf almost all the major political parties in the country.

Fresh facts have however, emerged to prove that every act of frustration thrown at the opposition has been indirectly aimed at the main opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

According to reliable sources, the recent deregistration of parties, especially the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), was actually targeted at the ADC.

Recall that the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on June, 26, set aside its earlier judgement directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party. A ruling that put a question mark on the eligibility of the party presenting candidates in the forthcoming 2027 elections

The presiding judge, Isah Dashen, held that all relevant parties must be heard before any substantive decision can be made in the matter.

The court upheld the application filed by a certain organization, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), ruling that the party was a necessary party to the suit.

According to the judge, the earlier judgement was constitutionally defective as it was delivered without hearing from all interested parties.

He declared that such an omission rendered the entire process null and void.

Mr Dashen further ruled that the status quo be restored to what it was before the December 10, 2025 judgement, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

He also observed that certain material facts were suppressed in the earlier proceedings, which justified the decision to set aside the judgment.

Consequently, the court ordered that the substantive suit should begin afresh, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PMP and the NDC as parties to the case.

According to NAN’s reports, the applicant’s lawyer, Chikezie Ekeocha, told journalists that the PMP approached the court after discovering that NDC’s registration was based on a logo it had previously submitted to INEC before the commencement of the suit.

According to Mr Ekeocha, the court agreed that the applicant’s rights had been affected and consequently vacated the earlier judgement.

“The court has ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the judgment of 10 December 2025, and directed the claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure the issues in dispute are effectually and completely determined,” he said.

He explained that the implication of the ruling is that every action taken by INEC in compliance with the now-vacated judgment stands reversed.

“The recognition of the NDC, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgement must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” Mr Ekeocha stated.

He, however, clarified that the substantive case remains before the court and has not been decided.

“The matter has not been concluded. The court merely set aside its previous judgment and directed that the party whose interests were affected be joined so that all sides can be heard before a fresh decision is reached.”

Mr Ekeocha also dismissed suggestions that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically directed a restoration of the position that existed before the 10 December 2025 judgement.

The ruling effectively returns the dispute over the registration of the NDC to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing, with all relevant parties expected to participate before a new determination is made.

It would also be recalled that a few weeks earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja, had ordered the deregistration of five political parties including the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The others are Action People’s Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Accord Party.

However, on June 16, the Court of Appeal in Abuja halted the enforcement of the judgement, ruling that it violated its earlier ruling staying proceedings before the Federal High Court.

While INEC awaits the release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment to deregister the NDC, the NDC has reacted, rejecting the judgment as travesty of justice.

Lending credence to the notion that the President Tinubu-led administration is basically targeting the establishment of the ADC as a party, and the candidature of its presidential flagbearer, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is also the presidential candidate of the ADC, has stated categorically that there are plots to prevent the party from participating in the 2027 general election.

Atiku’s position is stated in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu on Monday, notifying the public that he had received credible information suggesting that political and legal manoeuvres were being deployed against the ADC, stressing that the persecution that has been thrown towards the NDC was a clear distraction as the main target is the ADC.

Atiku alleged that anti-democratic elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were working to ensure that the ADC is excluded from the ballot.

“We are fully aware of their plots. While they seek to sow confusion within the opposition, we know their real target is the ADC because it represents the most credible alternative,” he said.

Atiku called on Nigerians to reject any attempt to determine which opposition parties participate in the election.

“We therefore call on all Nigerians — not just ADC members and supporters — to rise in defense of democracy and reject any attempt by the ruling party to cherry-pick which opposition parties are permitted to participate in the next general election,” he said.

“Our message to the APC and the hooded men plotting in dark chambers is simple: you may conspire, but you will not succeed.

“If the APC is truly confident in its popularity, why is it so terrified of the ADC?”

He said he hoped the information available to him would not materialise but argued that recent political developments made such concerns difficult to dismiss.

“The pattern has become all too familiar. First, institutions that ought to be neutral are drawn into partisan contests,” he said.

“Then, frivolous litigations suddenly gain unusual momentum. Administrative powers are selectively deployed.

“Political pressure is mounted behind closed doors. Before long, democracy itself becomes the casualty.”

Atiku alleged that the ruling party has focused more on weakening the opposition than addressing the country’s economic and security challenges.

“The obsession with silencing the opposition has become so consuming that governance itself has taken a back seat,” he said.

“At a time when Nigerians are battling hunger, inflation, unemployment, insecurity, and collapsing purchasing power, those entrusted with public office appear preoccupied with political survival rather than national survival.”

Nigerians recall that ever since the official rejuvenation of the ADC in June/July of 2025, where the duo of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola emerged as the party’s chairman and secretary respectively, the party has not known moments of peaceful coexistence as litigations from corners unknown have sprang up in a bid to destabilize the party and deprive it of the opportunity of featuring on the ballot paper come 2027.

ADC, as a child of circumstance emerged from the rumbles of the litigation-ridden former main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where two factions have consistently remelained at loggerheads over leadership. While the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who is working assiduously to ensure the reelection of Bola Tinubu, leads one faction, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who became a defacto head, leads the other faction. In all, PDP appeared to have no direction, forcing many of its members to jump ship, thereby birthing the ADC, and to a large extent, the NDC, which is presenting Peter Obi as the presidential candidate, with former Kano governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as his running mate.

Sources also informed The Boss that the hasty reading and passage of the Electoral Act 2026 by the Godswill Akpabio-led National Assembly, with many great areas left unattended to, were also part of the grand design to deprive the ADC the constitutional rights of presenting candidates for the 2027 elections.

But both the ADC and the NDC has vowed that they would follow every process to ensure that the crackdown on opposition parties by the Tinubu administration comes to an abrupt end.

But beyond the intrigues, Nigerians are gearing up to participate fully in the forthcoming election with cross sections of the population either hailing Tinubu for his policies or knocking him for the untold hardship in the land.

Headline

South Africa Nothing Without Africa – MTN Boss, Mcebisi Jonas

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2026

Eric

The MTN Group Chairman, Mcebisi Jonas, has condemned the ongoing anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa, describing it as a symptom of State failure being cynically exploited by politicians with no interest in genuine solutions.

The speech is seen as one of the most substantive interventions by a senior business figure into xenophobic crisis currently plaguing South Africa.

Delivered during the funeral service of Zimbabwean-born activist and public servant, Thokozani Damasane, Jonas’ words have sparked a wave of discussion across South African civil society.

“I was thinking, what is home to Damasane?” he said. “Because I understand, and I understood very early in life, that home is where humanity is. Home is about humanness. It is about the good of humanity and striving for the good of humanity.”

Thokozani Damasane was born and educated in Zimbabwe before relocating to South Africa during the post-apartheid transition period. Jonas described him as arriving “as an outcast” into a country still finding its post-liberation footing – and choosing, nonetheless, to commit himself entirely to its struggles and its people.

“He immersed himself deeply into the struggles, into the pains of South Africans, and he became one of us,” Jonas said.

“In Damasane’s strength, our strength as South Africa and South Africans is reflected. And in his weaknesses, our own weaknesses are reflected.”

Speaking further, Jonas blamed the state for the failure being witnessed, emphasising that if foreigners leave South Africa today, the country’s problems will still persist.

“Foreigners can leave tomorrow – inequality will be with us,” he told the congregation.

“Foreigners will leave tomorrow – unemployment will be with us. Foreigners will leave tomorrow – our police will remain corrupt. Foreigners will leave tomorrow – our politicians will still be concerned with one thing: being elected and re-elected.

“The problem is the failure of the state. The State doesn’t manage immigration. It doesn’t manage its borders. It doesn’t enforce
law enforcement. It doesn’t manage education. What are you expecting?”

Jonas argued that this failure created fertile ground for political manipulation. “When people feel the burn, they become vulnerable to politicians whose sole purpose is to be elected and re-elected. Some of them have no credibility whatsoever. But they lead marches and tell our people that the problem is not us – it is foreigners.”

Jonas recounted a conversation he had witnessed between Damasane and a young man who had challenged the right of foreigners to be in South Africa. Damasane’s response, Jonas said, had stayed with him ever since.

“Damasane said to this guy: Just wait fifteen or twenty years. You will also want to leave your country.”

Jonas told mourners those words now carry a weight Damasane may not have anticipated. “As I stand up today, I look at South Africa. The level of oppression and inequality, the level of exclusion of our people, the level of corruption, the betrayal of the dream of liberation – those words of Damasane ring very loud in my ears.”

South Africa is nothing without Africa

Jonas closed with a call for what he described as a return to “national consciousness” – one rooted in continental solidarity and economic interdependence rather than ethnic exclusion.

“We are a nation embedded in Africa,” he said. “And without Africa, our growth as a country – economically – our fortune is intertwined with the growth of Africa. South Africa is nothing without Africa. And Africa is nothing without South Africa.”

He also reframed the question of legacy and identity for Damasane’s children, who were present. “Sometimes this thing called meritocracy is measured in wealth. No. It is values, it is principles, it is integrity. And your father had all of that.”

“We cannot judge people by their origin,” he told mourners. “We cannot determine the legal status of people by their origin.”

Headline

NDC Rejects Court Ruling on Party’s Registration, Heads to Appeal Court

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2026

Eric

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), on Friday, vowed to challenge the judgment nullifying its registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that it would exercise its constitutional right of appeal.

Reacting to the ruling on Thursday, the party’s spokesman, Osa Director, said the NDC was still awaiting the certified copy of the judgment before making a comprehensive statement on the court’s decision.

He, however, confirmed that the party had resolved to head to the appellate court.

“We are still waiting to obtain a copy of the judgment. After reading the comprehensive judgment, we will make a detailed statement,” he said.

The spokesman added: “For now, what is certain is that we will exercise our right of appeal.”

Insisting that the party would challenge the ruling, he said: “It is our constitutional right to appeal, and we intend to exercise that right.”

When asked specifically whether the NDC would appeal the judgment voiding its registration, the spokesman replied: “Yes, the party will appeal the case.”

The party’s reaction came shortly after a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, in a judgement that nullified its registration by INEC, a development that could have significant implications for the NDC’s participation in the country’s political process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The NDC, however, maintained that it would refrain from making further comments on the substance of the judgment until it had studied the full text of the court’s decision.

The party’s planned appeal is expected to set the stage for a fresh legal battle over its status and continued existence as a registered political party.