Opposition parties divided over single candidate to challenge Tinubu in 2027 election
via Punch Nigeria15 min read
The plan for Nigerian opposition parties to unite behind a single presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election is facing challenges, with various factions adopting different stances. While a Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP remains open to the idea, a Nyesom Wike-backed PDP faction has ruled out any alliance. Similarly, the camp of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar stated that opposition parties have already produced their candidates but are committed to working together. The All Progressives Congress APC has dismissed the opposition's proposal as ineffective against President Tinubu's re-election bid. An April 25 summit in Ibadan saw opposition leaders resolve to work together and explore a single candidate, with attendees including former Senate President David Mark, Tanimu Turaki, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, and others. However, many of these leaders have since emerged as presidential or vice-presidential candidates for various parties, such as Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi for the African Democratic Congress ADC, and Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso for the Nigeria Democratic Coalition NDC. The National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led PDP, Ini Ememobong, emphasized that a single candidate remains a viable strategy, stating that no single opposition party can win alone. Conversely, the Wike-backed PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed, denied any alliance, asserting the party's focus o
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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