By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde are reportedly making progress towards a possible political alliance to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
According to The Punch newspaper, representatives of the two politicians have held several meetings and reached compromises as part of negotiations.
The discussions are said to be separate from wider consultations among opposition leaders seeking to present a common presidential candidate against the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Makinde, who is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration and supported efforts to bring opposition parties together ahead of the next general election.
On April 25, he convened an opposition summit at the Government House in Ibadan, where political leaders discussed the possibility of fielding a single candidate against Tinubu. However, the initiative has yet to produce an agreement, as Atiku, Makinde and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi have maintained their presidential ambitions.
Makinde confirmed on Friday that he was consulting with opposition figures, including Atiku and Obi. Speaking on Arise News, he said the discussions could determine whether they would contest against one another or work together.
“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.
Sources in the camps of both politicians said that the possibility of an agreement between Atiku and Makinde was high.
A South-West leader of the African Democratic Congress, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the negotiations as fresh and promising. He expressed confidence that both politicians would soon make their plans public.
Asked when the proposed alliance would be announced, the party chieftain jokingly replied, “before January 16,” in a text message accompanied by a laughing emoji.
An Allied Peoples Movement candidate familiar with Makinde’s political circle also said the governor was expected to work with Atiku in the 2027 election.
“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, confirmed that Makinde was holding discussions with opposition leaders but did not specifically confirm an agreement with Atiku.
He described those involved in the consultations as seasoned politicians “who know the vagaries of contemporary politics, especially as they relate to the Tinubu issues.”
Oyelade said Makinde was open to working with other opposition groups if such an arrangement could provide a practical way to address the country’s challenges.
“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,” the commissioner stated.
However, none of the sources disclosed the specific terms of the negotiations or how the proposed alliance would be structured, particularly the question of who would secure the presidential ticket.
The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said opposition parties were still consulting on possible collaboration ahead of the election.
“All opposition parties are still talking. And it’s never too late,” he said.
Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, also confirmed that the former vice-president was engaging with opposition leaders.
He said the consultations were aimed at building a common front to address Nigeria’s challenges and provide an alternative to the current administration.
“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.
Neither Abdullahi nor Shaibu confirmed that a specific agreement had been reached between Atiku and Makinde.
With the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, opposition leaders face the task of reconciling their interests, agreeing on a common strategy and possibly settling on a consensus candidate.
The report also noted the role of G-100, a political pressure group convened by former Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman, to facilitate a broad opposition coalition ahead of the elections.
The group has held consultations with Atiku, Obi, Makinde and other political figures, arguing that opposition parties could struggle to challenge the APC if they contest separately.
However, the coalition effort has faced uncertainty as several opposition politicians continue to pursue individual presidential ambitions and campaign activities, with no public agreement yet on a common candidate.
