2027: Aggrieved opposition leaders form coalition to back Tinubu’s re-election

Some opposition politicians among of whom are prominent opposition Spokesperson,  Mark Adebayo,  Emeka Benjamin Igwe, steering committee member of the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, and a leader in the African Democratic Congress, ADC, former presidential candidates and national chairmen of political Parties and civil society activists have formed a formidable support group to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection bid in the 2027 presidential election.

After weeks of wide consultations, the opposition leaders came up with the  group named Opposition Coalition and Civil Society Alliance for Tinubu 2027, OCCSAT ’27. Adebayo and Igwe emerged Co-conveners whilst Comrade Mohammed Abdulrazaq emerged national publicity secretary among others. The meeting which held in Abuja on Tuesday was attended by representatives of many civil society organizations, sociopolitical and youth organizations from across the country.

Other national officers who emerged to lead the Coalition are Hajia Farida Yusuf, a very influential grassroots politician and women mobiliser in the Northwest from Kebbi state as National Director of Women Committee; Malam Muhammad Yahaya,
National Director, Voter Education and Sensitization; Madam Lydia Olorunfemi, National Treasurer, whilst the National Director of Finance is Comrade George Hyamber;
Comrade Olufemi Lawson of the Campaign for Democracy emerged as national Director of Labour and Civil Society Relations; National Director of Contact and Mobilization is Mr. Danesi Momoh; the Deputy National Secretary is Hajia Rukayya Musa Sangari, among others.

The opposition leaders and activists vowed to mobilize grassroots and urban voters for the president’s successful reelection due to the “unfortunate failure of the opposition to reach a strategic consensus on a one presidential candidate for all others to support. Everyone in the opposition is aware of which candidate could have made the difference in the 2027 presidential election. But now the votes for the opposition will be severely mutilated by competing opposition candidates instead of huge bloc votes for one opposition candidate, essentially Peter Obi. Imagine, for instance, an Atiku backing Obi. But that didn’t happen because it’s actually not about Nigeria, but about self. But this opposition fragmentation has significantly diminished and destroyed any possibility of the opposition pulling off any magic in the 2027 general elections. That’s why you see people from ADC, PDP, CUPP, CD, and other opposition, pro-democracy civil society organizations represented here today. We can no longer be part of an opposition that is so fragmented, self-centered and self-deluded.”

“Without a united front and deliberate strategic actuation, the opposition stands no chance against a seasoned political gamechanger like President Bola Tinubu. The opposition should just go and start preparing for 2031. 2027 is already done and dusted for Tinubu.”

“We understand that there are challenges in the country particularly in the areas of security and the economy, but they are being tackled and some of the government efforts will take a little while to start making an impact. Anything that will have a lasting impact has no quick fixes. We’ll continue to hold government accountable on its policies and governance deliverables whilst at the same time making Nigerians see reason why the reform agenda of Mr. President must not stop halfway.”

The Coalition praised the president’s efforts on getting the remaining captives in the Oyo kidnapping saga out of arm’s way without additional fatalities and saluted the sacrifices and devotion of Nigeria’s armed forces and other security agencies for working overtime to keep Nigerians safe. The Coalition announced that it’s national strategic engagement retreat will hold at a date to be announced in August in Keffi, Nasarawa State that is to be attended by over a thousand delegates from various organizations.