Former presidential hopeful Peter Obi has formally announced his intention to run for office in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, distancing himself from the possibility of a joint candidacy with fellow All Democratic Alliance (ADA) member Atiku Abubakar. The announcement, made in a press release on Monday, underscores deepening divisions within the newly formed opposition coalition.

Obi had addressed the topic during a livestream on X on Sunday night, where he commented on the possibility of serving as Atiku’s vice president in the next election.

“I won’t say I must have the ticket. That’s not leadership. You must work with others, consult widely, and put Nigeria first.”
Peter Obi

However, less than 24 hours later, Obi’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Umar, released a statement firmly dismissing any talks of a joint Obi-Atiku ticket. The declaration puts to rest swirling speculation that the two political heavyweights might unite under one banner.

Obi and Abubakar, former candidates of the Labour Party and People’s Democratic Party respectively, are among the most prominent figures backing the new ADA coalition — a political bloc formed to consolidate Nigeria’s fragmented opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 elections. The alliance, made up of several opposition parties, is largely viewed as a strategic effort to challenge the incumbent President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Coalition Cracks Begin to Widen

Despite its promising start, the ADA has struggled with internal coherence. As early as May, reports emerged of cancelled meetings as coalition members failed to reach consensus on whether to form a new political party or merge under an existing party umbrella.

Obi’s clear rejection of a subordinate role to Abubakar is seen as a continuation of these disagreements. Dr. Abdul-Wasi Moshood, Head of Political Science at Lagos State University, said that Obi stepping aside for Abubakar would be unlikely. “For somebody like that to now say okay, and be deputy to another person—it will be practically impossible,” he said.

Dr. Moshood believes the ADA lacks ideological unity, instead functioning more as a power-grabbing alliance than a coherent opposition. “Simply put, they are all in coalition just to be able to access power in 2027,” he observed. “We have not seen in any meaningful light that those who are coming together really want to stand in opposition.”

The ongoing discord raises serious questions about the durability of the ADA coalition. Without a unified front or a consensus presidential candidate, the alliance’s ability to mount a formidable challenge in 2027 may be in jeopardy.

Voter Apathy and Logistical Setbacks

Nigeria’s most recent general elections, held in February 2023, highlighted long-standing issues in the country’s democratic process. Although over 93 million Nigerians were registered to vote, the largest voter roll in Africa, only about 28.63% of them actually cast ballots. This marked a steep decline from previous elections: 52.3% in 1999 and 34.8% in 2019.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged victorious in that contest with 8.79 million votes, representing 36.61% of the vote. Atiku Abubakar garnered 6.98 million (29.07%), while Peter Obi captured 6.1 million votes (25.4%). The relatively low totals for each candidate reflect the country’s persistent issue with voter disengagement.

Observers cited multiple reasons for the dismal turnout, including poor logistics by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Delayed openings of polling units and confusion over polling locations were among the common grievances that dissuaded voters from participating.

The 2023 elections underscored Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to foster robust democratic participation. Without significant reforms to address voter apathy and institutional inefficiencies, the road to 2027 may be riddled with the same obstacles that have long plagued the electoral process.