Good morning, fellow Nigerians.
As we drift steadily toward the 2027 general elections, the winds of uncertainty blow fiercely across the nation’s socio-political landscape. Our economy bleeds. Our unity groans under the weight of deepening mistrust. Our youth, increasingly despondent, search the horizon for a glimmer of hope that seems ever elusive. Yet, in the face of this national drift, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appears more concerned with consolidating power than confronting the existential crises threatening the soul of Nigeria.
It is against this backdrop that the opposition must rise, not as fragmented silos driven by ego and narrow interest, but as a grand coalition galvanized by the urgency of national salvation.
I state unequivocally, that the only credible path to upstaging the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 is through a bold, well-structured opposition coalition; a coalition spearheaded by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but encompassing all forces committed to rescuing this nation from the abyss.
This coalition must not be cosmetic. It must be strategic, inclusive, and deeply rooted in both electoral mathematics and emotional resonance across Nigeria’s diverse population. A coalition of this nature must field a popular southerner from the South East as its presidential candidate, to energize a zone long marginalized in the nation’s power calculus. This is not merely about equity; it is about electoral strategy. Nigeria needs healing and a credible Igbo candidate, with pan-Nigerian appeal, signals a break from the old order and offers a fresh chance at true reconciliation.
This coalition must be driven by vision, not vanity. Which brings us to a necessary but difficult truth: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar must set aside his presidential ambition for the greater good of the nation. The time has come for elder statesmanship, not endless ambition. Atiku has given much to the PDP and Nigeria’s democratic journey, but this is a defining moment that demands selfless sacrifice, not another costly bid that could fracture the opposition and hand the APC an unearned victory.
Equally, the PDP must cleanse its inner sanctum. It must exorcise the spirit of internal sabotage and wrest itself from the grip of those who are clearly in league with the ruling party. The curious role of Nyesom Wike cannot be ignored. His actions and utterances continue to cast long shadows over the PDP’s credibility. No party serious about reclaiming power can allow such contradictions to fester unchecked.
Indeed, the PDP appears to be in a slumber, llost in internal wrangling, deaf to the groans of Nigerians, and blind to the political realignment that is fast taking shape. It must now wake up. It must reimagine its purpose, not as a vessel for recycled ambitions but as a platform for national redemption.
This is where clarity of leadership must meet electoral momentum. If we are serious about presenting a credible and winning opposition front in 2027, the presidential candidate of this coalition should be Peter Obi.
Peter Obi is not just a name; he is a movement. He brings to the table a rare blend of acclaimed credibility, frugality, modern economic thinking, and ethical clarity. In the 2023 elections, he won ten states by landslide, slicing through traditional voting patterns and electrifying young Nigerians across the country with a message of hope, discipline, and national rebirth. His candidacy presents a powerful symbol of inclusion for the South East and offers a chance to heal the long-standing political exclusion of that region.
Even more importantly, Obi has a support base that is organic, passionate, and widespread. He connects with the aspirations of Nigeria’s restless youth and middle class—the very demographics that will decide the outcome of the next election. His entry into a coalition ticket reinvigorates the opposition with moral capital and electoral energy.
Paired with a Northern political heavyweight like Mallam Nasir El-Rufai—himself a paradoxical but potent force, the ticket achieves geopolitical balance and shrewd pragmatism. This combination could upend the APC’s power grip and rechart Nigeria’s course.
The APC has shown us what it means to capture power without offering purpose. The 2023 elections may have been won, but the Nigerian people have not been served. The country cannot afford a repeat.
This is no time for apathy or factionalism. It is a time for courage, coalition, and clarity of purpose. All hands must be on deck—civil society, the youth, the diaspora, technocrats, and political actors of conscience. The time to begin is now.
Nigeria must not be allowed to stumble further into the shadows. If the opposition unites with intelligence, if egos are set aside, if ethnic mistrust is replaced with strategic partnerships—then 2027 can be the year of Nigeria’s rebirth.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Daniel Aroren Noah Osa-Ogbegie is a Benin based legal practitioner and political analyst.
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