With the shadow of Nigeria’s 2027 elections almost upon us, a political coalition is quietly but steadily taking shape. Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai—all these are rumoured to be among the primary players seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s rule. But while the idea of unity excites many, undercurrents of ambition and division peek through that may derail the collective effort.
At the heart of the coalition’s strategy is the unspoken contest for power. Atiku’s northern supporters argue for his candidacy, while Obi and Amaechi’s southern camps remain steadfast in their demand for power to stay in the south. El-Rufai is like a boat in the midst of a storm. How can these competing interests form anything but a delicate and potentially divisive tension?