As the 2027 general election draws closer, discussions around a potential political alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have continued to generate ripples, especially among Northern voters who are seen as key to deciding the next presidency.
Naijaonpoint reports that amid increasing hardship and political realignment, Northern analysts and grassroots leaders have begun to speak on the coalition’s strength and its implications for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a recent interview, a political analyst, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, popularly known as Abba Gwale, said although Peter Obi is yet to officially join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), he is being regarded as a key player in the coalition efforts.
“The major actors of the coalition are mostly Northerners. Peter Obi is yet to join ADC, but as they said, he’s part of the movement and will soon dump his party and join the coalition,” Gwale told Daily Post.
Gwale noted that the coalition is receiving strong attention from voters in the North who are keen on unseating President Bola Tinubu.
Northerners Ready For Massive Voter Turnout
Speaking further, Gwale maintained that Northern voters are prepared to mobilise massively in support of a strong alternative, particularly under the ADC coalition banner.
“Northerners will come out and vote for any candidate under the coalition. They believe it’s the only way to end Tinubu’s administration,” he said.
Naijaonpoint reports that the analyst also noted that top political figures were already pitching tents with the ADC, citing the defection of former APC governorship candidate in Adamawa, Aishatu Binani, as an example.
“Top politicians are trooping to get ADC membership cards,” Gwale said, adding that voter concerns in the region range from fuel subsidy removal to insecurity and economic hardship.
Obi-Atiku alliance is APC’s worst nightmare – Adnan
Echoing similar sentiments, a former Kano House of Assembly aspirant, Mukhtar Adnan, described the proposed alliance as a major political threat to the ruling party.
He said, “An alliance between Obi and Atiku is going to be the best thing, looking at the weight of the two political figures.”
He argued that their combined votes from the 2023 election, over 13 million, surpass the 8 million President Bola Tinubu secured, making the alliance formidable.
Adnan said growing hardship is pushing grassroots voters to embrace the coalition, and described Atiku as “the best and most competent” among the current pool of aspirants.
“You know he has a blueprint. He has contested many times and has always shown Nigerians that he understands the country’s problems and has solutions,” he added.
Adnan said he would personally back a ticket with Atiku as president and Obi as deputy.
ADC Filled With Angry Politicians
However, not all voices are optimistic about the coalition’s chances. Al-ameem Kabeer from Katsina cautioned that the APC remains a strong force and will not easily cede power.
“The ruling party will do everything it takes to defend their position and make sure they are not defeated,” he warned.
He said unless the ADC secures more governors than the APC and attracts influential figures like Rabiu Kwankwaso, it may be difficult to win.
Similarly, a district head in Kano, Nazeer Dalhatu, described the ADC as a platform for “angry politicians” who could not secure positions in the APC.
“The ADC is filled with angry politicians. They are not strong enough to compete. From what we’ve seen so far, they are simply not ready,” Dalhatu said.
A resident of Zaria, Abdulrasheed Omoniyi, who also spoke to the media platform, expressed mixed feelings about the coalition’s potential.
While acknowledging that past shifts like Jonathan’s loss to APC in 2015 proved change is possible, he said such momentum is currently lacking.
“It has happened before, but the energy back then was different. That kind of momentum isn’t there now,” he said.
He added that if the ADC presents a Northern presidential candidate, they may risk losing support in the South.
“The chances are slim. But if they present the right candidate, they might be able to defeat the APC,” Omoniyi noted.
We Don’t Have A Preferred Candidate – ADC
Speaking, however, on the matter, ADC’s national spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, stressed that the coalition is not built around any individual.
“Nobody is talking about a presidential candidate at the moment. We don’t have a preferred candidate. When the time comes, we’ll follow a democratic process and allow members to decide,” he said.
He added that the party’s current focus is on strengthening its grassroots structures and that the bulk of its emerging leadership is from the North.
“Our focus now is on growing the party,” Abdullahi affirmed.