By OBSERVERS TIMES
A coalition of opposition leaders aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 elections has officially been established, according to reliable sources. The coalition emerged from a meeting held late Tuesday night, which extended into the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Attendees included prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, among other key stakeholders. This coalition was initially announced by Atiku on March 20 during a press conference in Abuja, where he expressed confidence in their ability to challenge Tinubu’s presidency.
However, tensions have surfaced regarding the proposed political roles within the coalition. Reports indicated that Obi was offered the Vice Presidential slot during a recent meeting with Atiku in London, a claim Obi has publicly denied. A source close to the coalition revealed that the recent meeting was crucial for establishing committees and solidifying plans for the coalition’s public launch.
Katchy Ononuju, a former Special Adviser to Obi during his governorship in Anambra State, has voiced strong opposition to the coalition’s current direction. He characterized it as a “mere dream” that lacks the foundational support needed for success. Ononuju emphasized that the coalition’s plans would not be accepted unless the presidency is zoned to the South with Obi as the leading candidate.
In an interview with DAILY POST, Ononuju stated, “This coalition is just a caucus of Atiku’s supporters trying to preempt the decisions of PDP governors who are advocating for a southern presidency. They are suggesting that Peter will be Vice President while Atiku assumes the presidency, which is unacceptable.”
Reflecting on the origins of the Obidient Movement, which he co-founded, Ononuju reiterated that their departure from the PDP stemmed from a fundamental disagreement over the zoning of the presidency. He warned that any attempts to reintegrate Obi into a subordinate role would be met with resistance from the movement.
“The Obidient Movement will not accept Peter being positioned under anyone as Vice President,” he asserted. “We are not opposed to a coalition, but we reject any strategy that seeks to revive the old dynamics that led to our initial split.”
Ononuju further criticized Atiku’s approach, suggesting that it reflects a desperation that is not driven by Obi but rather by Atiku’s own political ambitions. He called for the PDP governors to make a definitive statement on zoning before any coalition plans proceed.
As the political landscape evolves, the Obidient Movement remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for a southern presidency, signaling a potential clash within the newly formed coalition over the future of Obi’s political aspirations.
