Nigeria’s 2 Main Opposition Leaders Join Coalition Party

Mr. Peter Obi (left) and Mr. Atiku Abubakar

Source: Africa Publicity

The two main opposition leaders of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have abandoned their respective political parties to join a Coalition Party which is seeking to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. 

Mr. Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr. Obi of the Labour Party (LP), both opposition parties, joined the newly-formed Coalition Party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The ADC is seen as one of the biggest shake-ups in Nigerian politics since the end of the country’s military rule in 1999.

Also joining the ADC are some bigwigs of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of President Tinubu.

President Tinubu won Nigeria’s last Presidential election in 2023 with 37% of the vote. Mr. Abubakar polled 29% on the ticket of the PDP and Mr. Obi who led the LP garnered 25%.

Mr. Obi was a member of the PDP but broke away after the party chose Mr. Abubakar to be its presidential candidate.

At the launch of the ADC, the Coalition’s interim Chairman, David Mark says it was an attempt to save Nigeria’s democracy and to stop Nigeria from becoming a one-party state.