2027 : Atiku, Makinde close in on anti-Tinubu alliance

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde are reportedly making progress towards a political alliance aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

The proposed partnership follows a series of consultations and meetings involving representatives of both politicians, with sources familiar with the negotiations indicating that significant compromises have been reached.

It was gathered that the discussions between Atiku and Makinde are separate from the wider negotiations among opposition leaders seeking to present a common presidential candidate against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Makinde, who is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has consistently criticised the Tinubu administration and backed efforts to unite opposition forces ahead of the next general election.

On April 25, 2026, the Oyo State governor hosted an opposition summit at the Government House in Ibadan, where political stakeholders discussed the possibility of fielding a joint presidential candidate to challenge the APC.

However, the initiative has struggled to produce a consensus, largely because Atiku, Makinde and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi have continued to pursue their individual presidential ambitions.

Makinde, while confirming on Friday that he was consulting with opposition figures, including Atiku and Obi, said the outcome of the discussions would determine whether they would eventually work together or contest against one another.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, the governor said:

“Depending on what we see between now and the election time, we may be rivals; we may be collaborators. One may be the client of the other,” he said.

Nevertheless, sources within the camps of Atiku and Makinde expressed confidence that an understanding between the two politicians was increasingly likely.

A senior politician familiar with the negotiations disclosed that representatives of both camps had held several meetings and were making progress towards reaching an agreement.

A leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the South-West, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the negotiations as promising and expressed optimism that the proposed alliance would materialise.

He said the discussions were fresh and purposeful, adding that both politicians could formally announce their plans soon.

When asked when the proposed arrangement would be made public, the party chieftain jokingly responded, “before January 16,” accompanied by a laughing emoji in a text message.

Similarly, an APM candidate familiar with Makinde’s political movement said the governor was likely to work with Atiku in the 2027 presidential contest.

According to him, recent engagements between representatives of the two camps suggest that the proposed partnership is gradually taking shape.

He said:“The available information is that the Atiku and Makinde alliance is very possible, and it is taking shape. A series of meetings, both virtual and physical, have been held in the last few weeks, and they are fruitful.

“What is on the ground shows that both parties have reached compromises and they are going to unveil that very soon,” he said.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, also acknowledged that Makinde was holding discussions with opposition leaders, although he stopped short of confirming a specific agreement with Atiku.

Oyelade described those involved in the consultations as experienced political actors “who know the vagaries of contemporary politics, especially as they relate to the Tinubu issues.”

He added that the governor was willing to collaborate with other opposition tendencies if such an arrangement could provide a credible pathway to addressing the country’s challenges.

The commissioner stated: “As far as Governor Seyi Makinde is concerned, he is not averse to working directly with other opposition tendencies as long as there’s light at the end of the tunnel to end the unequalled sufferings of the masses, because he believes that the level of renewed poverty is absolutely needless.”

Despite the reported progress, the specific conditions of the proposed alliance remain unclear.

Neither camp has publicly disclosed how the negotiations might address critical issues, particularly the question of who would emerge as the presidential candidate should the arrangement become a reality.

The ADC has also confirmed that discussions among opposition parties are continuing as political leaders explore possible cooperation ahead of the 2027 election.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said that the consultations were broad-based and not restricted to any individual or political organisation.

He said: “All opposition parties are still talking. And it’s never too late,” he wrote in a WhatsApp message to our correspondent.

Similarly, Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku, confirmed that the former vice-president was engaging with opposition leaders as part of efforts to build a united political front.

He said the consultations were aimed at providing Nigerians with an alternative to the present administration and addressing the country’s prevailing challenges.

Shaibu stated: “We are engaging with leaders across the opposition in the shared interest of Nigeria. Together, we will do everything necessary to restore responsible leadership, make life affordable for Nigerians and put our country back on the right path,” he said.

However, neither Abdullahi nor Shaibu specifically confirmed that an agreement had been reached between Atiku and Makinde.

With the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, opposition leaders face the difficult task of reconciling competing political interests, agreeing on a common strategy and potentially settling for a consensus candidate capable of challenging Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The latest developments nevertheless point to renewed efforts by influential opposition figures to strengthen consultations and explore possible partnerships before the election.

One of the groups pushing for a united opposition platform is G-100, a political pressure group convened by former Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman.

The group was established to facilitate a broad-based opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.

Its position is that opposition parties may find it difficult to defeat the APC if they approach the election independently, particularly given the ruling party’s political structures and electoral advantages.

G-100 has reportedly consulted Atiku, Obi, Makinde and other political stakeholders in pursuit of a common platform and a single presidential candidate.

However, the initiative continues to face uncertainty as opposition politicians maintain their individual ambitions and political activities, with no clear indication yet that they are ready to reach a final agreement on a joint candidate.

(PUNCH)