Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reiterated that the coalition of opposition forces he is leading will adopt any political platform that guarantees good governance in its bid to unseat Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Atiku made the statement on Tuesday during a meeting with a delegation of National Opinion Leaders. A video clip of the meeting was shared on his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
He described the coalition as a movement already in progress, stating, “The coalition train has left the station and would have multiple stops to bring on board Nigerians of all shades.”
The comment comes two days after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, at the end of their meeting in Ibadan, distanced themselves from any coalition or merger discussions ahead of the 2027 elections.
The meeting, which ended on Monday, was attended by the acting PDP National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and other party leaders. While the governors disassociated themselves from any planned coalition, they expressed openness to individuals or groups willing to join the PDP in the effort to “wrest power and enthrone good leadership in 2027.”
Atiku had earlier in March announced the formation of a coalition of opposition parties aimed at challenging President Tinubu’s re-election.
He was flanked at the announcement by Dr Yunusa Tanko, who represented Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Atiku also recently visited former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna alongside other coalition members, prompting expectations that the PDP would clarify its stance on the alliance.
Addressing the delegation of youth-dominated opinion leaders, Atiku urged them to stay committed to the cause and not be distracted by temporary inducements.
Atiku added, “Don’t be disrupted by people giving you pennies or kobos here and there, and nairas here and there, and then abandon your future, and the future of your children.
“Now, because of that, that’s why a number of us leaders from the parties I have mentioned—APC, PDP, Labour, and others—have come together to say we are going to have what I call in Hausa Sabuwar tafiya, which in English means a new path, a new pathway to a new Nigeria.
“And we have been meeting, and by the grace of God, very soon we will announce, and we hope and we appeal to you all to be part of this movement.”
The former vice president said the primary objective of the coalition was to ensure good governance.
“Whatever vehicle that will give us good governance in the future of our children and grandchildren, that is the vehicle we are going to ride on,” he stressed.
He concluded by urging the delegation to begin mobilizing support and building momentum ahead of the elections.
