Politics
2027: Atuku’s ambition, Zoning major hurdles as Coalition talks intensify
A reliable source involved in the coalition discussions revealed that the camps of 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, were demanding that power should stay in the South for eight years.
The source revealed that the delay in negotiations was due to uncertainty surrounding whether Atiku would run.
According to him, the participants in the coalition drive, particularly from the South, were hesitant to fully engage in the discussions to avoid jeopardising their ambitions and zones.
Coalition moves unveiled
On Thursday, the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku; Labour Party’s Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, announced the formation of a coalition to oust President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
There had been a growing debate about whether opposition parties should unite to challenge President Tinubu’s administration. The discussion later gained momentum, as various political figures expressed differing views.
Atiku had consistently emphasised the need for unity among opposition parties.
In his comments on March 8, 2025 he revealed that he was actively working to unite opposition groups to form a coalition to remove the APC from power.
Following El-Rufai’s shift from the APC to the Social Democratic Party on March 10, discussions among opposition leaders gained momentum.
Atiku, along with other opposition figures, declared that the last Thursday gathering marked the official beginning of the coalition.
He said, “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.”
Other opposition leaders present at the press conference included a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh; and the Convener of the Alternative, Segun Showunmi, among others.
Among those involved in the coalition, but whose apologies for absence were noted, were leaders from the ruling APC, including former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); and the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, among others.
Why talks stalled
Our source disclosed that negotiations were stalled because the key figures in the coalition discussions intended to run in the 2027 election.
He stated, “What I can tell you is that quite a lot of people are involved in the coalition. However, they fear zoning. You know that Obi and Amaechi are very much interested in replacing Tinubu, so their camps want power to remain in the South.
“Meanwhile, the Atiku camp is also pushing for the former Vice President to take another shot at the presidency in 2027. So, largely, the zoning issue and Atiku’s uncertain position on 2027 are stalling the negotiations.
“The southerners who want to replace Tinubu are afraid to get involved without knowing Atiku’s stance. If they get involved and, in the future, the coalition declares the race open to all, and Atiku grabs it like he did in 2019 and 2023 in the PDP, most of them would jeopardise their ambitions and potentially shortchange their region.
“This is why many are not participating openly or attending the meetings, like at the last press conference. So, that’s the situation. It’s one thing to agree on a coalition, as they have all agreed on the need for opposition political parties or their leaders to come together. But without clarifying whether they support another Southerner taking over from Tinubu (zoning), the discussion will remain unresolved. It may even give a few leaders reasons not to participate.”
Speaking on this, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, and a close ally of Obi confirmed the camp’s position, stating that stakeholders should support a Southern candidate to run in 2027.
Ahmeh expressed confidence that a Southern candidate could defeat Tinubu in 2027.
He stated, “We cannot disregard the unwritten agreement between the North and South. So, the best option for those of us in the coalition is to allow the South to complete their eight years, so that the North can come. So, we have to get a southern candidate with the momentum to lead the coalition.
“I am a northerner. By all definitions, by all geographical location, I am a northerner. But one thing I am stating clearly is that we already have an unwritten agreement. We agree that power shall rotate between the South and North. And it shall be on eight years basis. But it is not automatic because it is still subject to elections. People will contest elections, and Nigerians will decide.
“Parties involved in the coalition should be able to consider that this agreement is already there, and we should honour it. The North must understand that all it takes for a country to develop is the principle of understanding, sharing and co-existence, dictated by the fact that we carry and accommodate all corners, regions, and tribes of this country through consensus.
“But for now, since it exists, it is in our interest that we do not break that unwritten agreement. Because if we break it, and if a Northern is running on the mutual coalition discussion, I assure you that before 12 o’clock, there will be a consensus with the South to defeat that coalition.”
He insisted that for the coalition to grow into a majority and for the opposition to win the election, there must be an agreement for a southern candidate.
NNPP, PDP oppose zoning
Buba Galadima, a leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and a close ally of the NNPP’s 2023 Presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, clarified that there was no agreement between the North and South.
Galadima emphasized that opposition parties should focus on ensuring credible elections rather than worrying about the zones from which presidential candidates originated.
He stated, “I don’t discuss the North and I don’t discuss the South when I speak on democracy. Okay. If Tinubu is finishing and has done well, and Nigerians decide to vote for Seyi Tinubu, I have no grudge, provided that there is a free and fair election.
“I have no grudge because that is democracy. Opposition should be more concerned about credible election, than this North and South thing.
“And anybody who tells you there is any understanding or agreement between the North and South, tell him he’s a liar. And he doesn’t understand what democracy is. He doesn’t understand what politics is. As far as I am concerned, I am talking about democracy, I am not talking about North and South.”
The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, stated that the coalition ticket should be open to all Nigerians.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Osadolor claimed that President Tinubu, a Southerner, had damaged the economy, and therefore, coalition leaders should abandon the North-South zoning system.
APC, Atiku trade words over coalition
The APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, ridiculed the coalition discussions, stating that a building could not stand on a faulty foundation.
Ibrahim, while speaking to Sunday PUNCH, referred to Atiku as a contestant who was solely focused on his ambition.
He stated, “A building on a weak foundation cannot stand. So, the coalition is already faulty from the beginning. Atiku is always advancing just his interest. Atiku is just a contestant. He is not a democrat. He is a contestant as far as he is concerned. Everything he is doing, if it is not going to favor his candidature, he is not going to do it.
“So, he is not doing it in the interest of the nation. He is doing it in his own personal interest. Now, when personal interest supersedes national interest, there is just no way you can win the heart of the nation.
“So, no way, it won’t work. This thing has been done before. It failed, they are going to do it again, and they will fail.”
In response, the media adviser to the former Vice President, Paul Ibe, criticised the APC, stating that if the party had performed well in governance, there would be no need for coalition talks to remove them.
Addressing the suggestion that Atiku’s unclear stance on the 2027 presidency and zoning was hindering coalition negotiations, Ibe told Sunday PUNCH that the leaders involved would prioritise what was best for the nation.
He also urged stakeholders and Nigerians not to rush the process.
Atiku’s media adviser said, “It’s clear they (APC) don’t know what to do with the mandate given to them; instead, they are scheming for the future. Everything happening, from the declarations of state of emergency in Rivers State, to the destruction of the democratic space, stripping Nigeria of freedom and liberty, silencing people so that no one would have a voice. The emasculation of opposition parties is what they excel at—dividing Nigerians and creating instability.
“Prices are rising, and Nigerians can barely afford a meal. This situation makes you question the true agenda of the APC government. Is it to preside over the destruction, decimation, and obliteration of Nigeria? Is that why they sought power? They should focus on governance. If they had made something out of the mandate given to them, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
He explained that the main focus of all the leaders and stakeholders was to solidify the coalition.
“It’s not just about one individual; it’s a collective effort. I believe they are discussing what is best for them, so we shouldn’t preempt them. Let’s not put the cart before the horse. I believe the priority of all these leaders and stakeholders is how to firmly establish this coalition to have a robust one.
“The goal is to oust the All Progressives Congress (APC), and I believe that’s what’s most important to them right now, not what has been suggested so far,” he added.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled 30 members of the party for instituting legal actions against the party.
The affected members include some aspirants for the National Assembly, and their expulsion may disqualify them from participating in the party’s primary elections.
Disclosing this shortly after the meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party, the State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Sir Valentine Iyiegbu, told reporters that the decision was in line with Section 21, Subsection 5 of the party’s constitution.
“The party discussed those who took the party to court, and many of them are contesting for the House of Representatives tickets of the party,” he said.
“The matter comes up tomorrow, and the SEC stated that what the party constitution stipulates would be followed, which is outright expulsion from the party under Article 21, Subsection 5.”
“The SEC actually ratified their expulsion because they did not exhaust all the internal avenues provided by the party to resolve their grievances,” he added.
Iyiegbu noted that the only reprieve available to the expelled members would be for them to withdraw their court cases.
“It is only when the matters are withdrawn from the court that the party can consider listening to them,” he said.
Speaking on the party’s primary elections, he explained:
“In the case of those contesting for the tickets of the Federal House of Representatives, all the eleven positions have aspirants, while for the Senate, the three positions are also being contested. The screening committees were here to perform their duties,” he noted.
The party also ratified the appointment of a five-man Primary Elections Committee headed by Sir Izuchukwu Okeke, the State Organising Secretary of the party.
By PETRUS OBI
Frontline aspirant for the Aninri/Awgu/Oji-River Federal Constituency seat, Anayo Onwuegbu, has successfully completed the screening exercise conducted by the All Progressives Congress House of Representatives screening panel in Abuja ahead of the party primaries scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026.
Speaking after the exercise, Onwuegbu expressed satisfaction with the screening process, describing it as a reflection of the party’s commitment to internal democracy, transparency, and credible leadership selection ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The aspirant, who is seeking to represent Aninri/Awgu/Oji-River Federal Constituency under the platform of the APC, stated that he remains focused and prepared to continue to offer quality representation to the people of the constituency.
According to him, “The process once again highlights our party’s commitment to internal democracy, transparency, and the emergence of credible leadership as we prepare for the 2027 general elections.”
He reaffirmed his dedication to the development of the constituency, pledging to serve the people with commitment and purpose if elected.
The APC House of Representatives primaries are expected to hold nationwide on Friday as aspirants battle for the party’s tickets ahead of the 2027 elections.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Ten communities that make up Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State are set for a showdown with their traditional rulers following the alleged suspension of the zoning arrangement for the Anambra State House of Assembly elections.
Recall that on April 7, 2022, the traditional rulers, in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), resolved that the House of Assembly seats for Anaocha I and Anaocha II constituencies would rotate among the ten communities, with each town occupying the seat for two terms.
The traditional rulers further resolved that the rotation would subsist irrespective of the political party through which lawmakers emerge, noting that the arrangement was aimed at ensuring that all ten communities have the opportunity to produce members of the State Assembly in the interest of equity and fairness.
However, the Anaocha Equity Forum, shortly after its meeting, expressed concern over the alleged suspension of the zoning arrangement.
Speaking, the Convener of the Anaocha Equity Forum, Mr. Valentine Okoye, said the forum would not take kindly to what it described as acts capable of destabilising the council area, adding that any such move would be resisted.
“This is a Memorandum of Understanding signed by our traditional rulers, and it has been respected until now. We in the Anaocha Equity Forum see this as a slap on the sensibilities of the ten communities that make up the area,” he said.
“We urge members of the public, political parties, and stakeholders to disregard the alleged position of the traditional rulers, as it does not represent the views and aspirations of our people.
“Our traditional rulers should be mindful of their roles as fathers of their respective communities. They should also understand that they would be held responsible for whatever backlash or consequences may arise from this recent position.
“We call on Governor Charles Soludo to call the traditional rulers to order so that the peace currently enjoyed in Anaocha Local Government Area will not be disrupted,” he stated.
The exit of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, two prominent opposition figures, has weakened the African Democratic Congress across both chambers of the National Assembly.
The National Democratic Congress, which received Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso on Sunday, recorded its biggest gains on Tuesday with the addition of 17 House members and a senator. Weeks earlier, its ranks expanded when Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to join the party.
The development comes a few days after several opposition parties resolved to present a single presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
The wave of defection to the NDC occurred 48 hours after Obi and Kwankwaso, two of the ADC’s most prominent figures, formally exited the party. These moves have significantly altered the opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, setting the stage for shifting political alliances.
Additionally, the latest defectors, drawn from Kano, Anambra, Lagos, Edo, Rivers, and Kogi States, cited internal disarray within the ADC as a major factor that influenced their decision.
While reading their letters on the floor of the House, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary session, said the lawmakers blamed the party’s instability for their departure, noting that the crisis remained “unresolved starting from the ward to the national level.”
The defectors to the NDC are Yusuf Datti, Sani Adamu, Zakari Mukhtari, Kamilu Ado, Harris Okonkwo, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Peter Anekwe, Emeka Idu, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, and Afam Ogene. Others include Lagos lawmakers Thaddeus Attah, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, George Olwande, and Jese Onuakalusi, as well as Murphy Omroruyi from Edo and Umezuruike Manuchim from Rivers State.
In a separate move, Kogi lawmaker Leke Abejide defected from the ADC to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The coordinated nature of the defections is widely interpreted as a show of loyalty to Obi and Kwankwaso, whose switch to the NDC is already reshaping opposition dynamics.
Both men are influential political figures with strong regional bases—Obi in the South-East and Kwankwaso in the North-West—and their exit from the ADC appears to have triggered a ripple effect among lawmakers aligned with their political structures.
The ADC’s current troubles did not emerge overnight. In recent months, tensions within the party escalated over leadership struggles, strategy disagreements, and competing ambitions among top figures.
The situation worsened amid reports of irreconcilable differences between Obi, Kwankwaso, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was also a central figure in opposition coalition talks.
Efforts to build a united front ahead of 2027 reportedly broke down due to mistrust, zoning disagreements, and control of party structures.
Their eventual defection to the NDC marked a turning point. Seen as a more viable platform for consolidating opposition strength, the NDC quickly became a magnet for lawmakers and political actors seeking stability and clearer leadership direction.
With the departure of key figures and a steady decline in its legislative strength, the ADC now faces a daunting struggle to maintain political relevance.
The loss of national figures like Obi and Kwankwaso, combined with the defection of lawmakers across multiple states, appears to have weakened its structure and electoral prospects.
Only last week, the party boasted 24 members of the House of Representatives, but it is now left with six.
Once the dominant opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party may equally struggle to retain its status.
Though still officially the most formidable opposition in the House, the PDP currently has 29 members in the Green Chamber, down from 116 members in its ranks at the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023.
Barely a year to the inauguration of the 11th National Assembly, the Senate on Tuesday moved to tighten its internal rules, effectively narrowing the path to its most powerful offices and edging out a class of incoming lawmakers, including serving governors and former senators eyeing leadership positions.
In a move widely seen as pre-emptive, the red chamber, after about three hours of a closed-door session, amended Orders 4 and 5 of its Standing Rules, restricting eligibility for both presiding and principal offices to ranking lawmakers with defined legislative experience.
The amendments come amid growing interest by outgoing governors and political heavyweights, many of whom are positioning to enter the Senate in 2027 to contest for top leadership roles such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
Under the Revised Order 4, the Senate reinforced a strict hierarchy for the emergence of presiding officers, stating that “Nomination of senators to serve as Presiding Officers shall be in accordance with the ranking of senators and shall be strictly adhered to.
“The order of ranking are (i) Former President of the Senate, (ii) Former Deputy President of the Senate, (iii) Former Principal Officers of the Senate, (iv) Senators who had served at least one term of four years, (v) Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives, (vi) In the absence of i to v, senators elected into the Senate for the first time,” it stated.
Beyond this ranking structure, the Senate introduced a more stringent provision in Order 5, effectively excluding first-time and non-consecutive lawmakers from contesting principal offices.
The amended rule states: “Any senator shall not be eligible to contest for any principal office of the Senate unless he has served as a senator for at least two consecutive terms immediately preceding nomination.”
The implication is far-reaching: senators-elect who were not members of both the 9th and 10th National Assembly would be ineligible to vie for key leadership roles in the 11th Assembly.
Presiding offices in the Senate include the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, while principal offices comprise Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.
The rule changes come against the backdrop of an intensifying scramble for Senate seats ahead of the 2027 general elections, driven largely by governors completing their constitutionally allowed two terms.
No fewer than 10 state governors and several former governors are already angling to secure senatorial tickets, leveraging their influence over party structures to emerge as consensus candidates in their respective states.
At least 12 of the 36 state governors are in their second and final terms, with 10 set to complete their tenure by May 29, 2027.
The looming transition has triggered a wave of political realignments, with many seeking to maintain relevance and influence by moving to the National Assembly.
Eight of the affected governors are from the ruling All Progressives Congress, while Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party, and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed is aligned with the Allied Peoples Movement.
Those expected to exit office in 2027 include AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), alongside Makinde and Bala Mohammed.
Although Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will complete their tenures in early 2028 due to off-cycle elections, both have been drawn into early permutations for Senate seats.
In Imo State, the political temperature has risen sharply following moves by the All Progressives Congress to position Uzodimma for the Imo West senatorial seat.
Party leaders in the state have already named him as the consensus candidate, even as the incumbent senator, Osita Izunaso, is reportedly seeking a return to the red chamber.
Last Saturday, APC leaders from the Orlu Zone (Imo West), led by the state chairman, Chief Austin Onyedebelu, purchased the 2027 senatorial nomination form for the governor, urging him to accept the ticket.
Onyedebelu, who presented the forms to Uzodimma’s Chief of Staff, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie, called for pressure on the governor to “accept the plea of Orlu people by filling the forms so that it can be submitted before the deadline of 5th May, 2026.”
The state APC has also warned other aspirants against contesting the seat, insisting that Uzodimma remains the consensus choice.
Complicating the contest, former Governor Rochas Okorocha equally purchased nomination forms in a bid to return to the Senate, a move confirmed by one of his aides, Darlington Ibekwe.
The Orlu Political Consultative Assembly further reinforced Uzodimma’s candidacy, declaring him the sole candidate for the district in what it described as a “total, unanimous, and irrevocable decision.”
The unfolding contest is also shaped by internal power dynamics within the ruling party.
Last month, President Bola Tinubu reportedly rebuffed attempts by National Assembly leaders to secure automatic return tickets for lawmakers, instead reaffirming the authority of state governors over candidate selection.
The stance has strengthened governors’ grip on party structures, enabling many of them to influence senatorial nominations as they prepare for life after office.
Against this backdrop, the Senate’s rule amendments appear designed to preserve institutional hierarchy and prevent an influx of first-time lawmakers, many of them politically powerful, from immediately taking control of the chamber’s leadership.
For ambitious entrants like Uzodimma and others plotting a return or debut in the Senate, the message from the red chamber is clear: experience within its ranks, not political clout outside it, will determine who leads in the 11th National Assembly.
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