Nigeria’s Opposition Leaders Consider Merger Ahead of 2027 Presidential Election

By Osaiyekemwen Confidence

In a significant political development ahead of the 2027 presidential election, three of Nigeria’s leading opposition figures are in discussions about a potential merger. Ibrahim Abdullahi, the National Spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), disclosed this during an interview with Channels Television on Monday.

According to Abdullahi, the three opposition candidates from the last election—Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)—are considering putting aside their personal ambitions to form a united front. The aim of this potential alliance is to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections and “rescue Nigerians from hunger.”

Abdullahi highlighted that if the PDP’s previous leadership had better managed internal conflicts, prominent figures such as former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Kwankwaso, and Peter Obi might still be active members of the PDP. He argued that their support could have been decisive in the party’s efforts to defeat Bola Tinubu of the APC in the last election.

“We’ve lost Kwankwaso, we’ve lost Peter Obi; imagine if they were still in the party. We would have won the elections. The APC claimed they defeated us with a margin of just over one million votes. Any one of these names I mentioned could have closed that gap for us, and we would be in power today. Nigerians would not be facing the current despair and despondency,” Abdullahi stated.

Addressing whether the PDP is attempting to bring Obi, Kwankwaso, Wike, and other key figures back into the party, Abdullahi confirmed that discussions are ongoing. “You will see Peter Obi discussing with Atiku, you will see Peter Obi meeting with (Nasir) El-Rufai. Party management is a complex challenge, and we are doing our best in the difficult situation we find ourselves in. Rest assured, there will be light at the end of the tunnel. We have learned our lessons in a bitter way,” he added.

The possible merger among these opposition leaders is being closely monitored as a critical development that could significantly alter Nigeria’s political landscape before the 2027 elections. If successful, the alliance could consolidate opposition forces into a stronger, unified entity capable of challenging the APC’s dominance.