Abuja, 8 June 2025 – The coalition opposing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid is grappling with internal divisions, as conflicting interests among its key figures have stalled a decision on the adoption of a political party, according to sources.
The group, comprising prominent political heavyweights, was set to convene on 30 May 2025 to finalise its strategy but failed to meet due to a deadlock over whether to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or register a new party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA). The disagreement is reportedly fuelled by the presidential ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.
Sources revealed that Atiku, alongside former governors John Oyegun (Edo), Aminu Bello Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), is championing the adoption of the ADC. Conversely, Amaechi and the League of Northern Democrats (LND) are pushing for the creation of the ADA. However, the personal ambitions of these key figures have hindered progress, with no consensus reached on the party to adopt.
The current national sentiment, sources say, favours retaining the presidency in the South to honour the North-South power rotation convention. This sentiment has complicated Atiku’s efforts to secure a running mate from the South-East. An attempt to enlist Peter Obi as his running mate for the 2027 general election reportedly collapsed due to this regional consideration. Atiku has also struggled to find an alternative running mate from the South-East, with potential candidates such as Emeka Ihedioha and Osita Chidoka wary of being perceived as opposing Obi.
A source familiar with the coalition’s deliberations suggested that Atiku could break the impasse by abandoning his presidential bid and nominating a northern running mate to pair with Obi. Potential candidates include Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammad, Zamfara State Governor Lawal, or Senator Aminu Tambuwal. “If Atiku drops his ambition, the coalition might make headway,” the source told THISDAY.
Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, downplayed the significance of the presidential ambitions, describing them as secondary. “We are at the foundation level of the coalition. This is like building a house; we need a solid foundation before other things. There’s no need to jump the gun. When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it,” Ibe said.
A spokesperson for Obi, speaking anonymously, noted that Obi remains a member of the Labour Party for now but is involved in the coalition. “We are watching the developments and will speak out when the time is right,” the spokesperson said.
Dr. Umar Ardo, convener of the League of Northern Democrats, attributed the delay in choosing a party to the “hidden agendas” of the coalition’s promoters. “We are almost at a crossroads because of the political ambitions of our main promoters and their supporters. We hope to sort them out soon,” Ardo told THISDAY.
Adding another layer of complexity, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, founder and Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), argued that coalition talks led by former presidential candidates lack legitimacy without the involvement of party leadership. “We do not have individual candidacy in Nigeria. All presidential candidates emerge from political parties, and it is the parties that determine who their flag bearers will be,” Aniebonam said.
As the coalition struggles to resolve its internal conflicts, the path to a unified opposition against President Tinubu’s re-election remains uncertain.
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