Leadnaija
The proposed opposition coalition is considering former Transportation Minister Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as its likely presidential candidate for the 2027 election, following a growing deadlock between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
The coalition, which includes key political figures and groups, has also begun discussions about forming a new political party, to be named the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
LeadNaija gathered that the proposed party would serve as a fresh platform for the opposition, especially if uniting under existing parties proves too risky.
Amaechi, who turned 60 on May 27, came into focus after Peter Obi insisted on contesting the presidency again with his former running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed. Meanwhile, efforts to persuade Atiku to step down from another run have not yet succeeded.
During his 60th birthday lecture, Amaechi revealed that he had earlier told President Bola Tinubu he would not support his presidential bid.
“I told him I would not be involved in his electioneering,” he said, adding that the events of the past two years had “vindicated” his stance, particularly over Tinubu’s ability to unify Nigeria.
A member of the coalition’s steering team revealed that the private lecture, themed “Weaponising Hunger”, was designed to quietly test public reaction to Amaechi’s possible 2027 presidential ambition.
“With the way the coalition is going, some of us have noticed the unyielding positions of Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi. Although we are still trying to extract commitments from the former Vice President to shelve another presidential contest in 2027, Obi seems adamant on contesting with Datti Baba-Ahmed as his deputy.
“On the other hand, we have discovered that time is of the essence. It is possible that the two former presidential candidates may not reconsider their stance. So, some of us have resolved to put Amaechi on the ready. After all, he came second in the APC presidential primary.”
The source also revealed that the Muhammadu Buhari camp within the APC is quietly backing Amaechi, seeing him as a better alternative to Atiku or Obi. Though both Atiku and Obi are believed to be open to serving only one term, Amaechi is already seen as limited to one term due to power rotation (zoning) arrangements.
In the meantime, the League of Northern Democrats (LND), one of the coalition’s blocs, has confirmed that discussions are ongoing to register a new party, rather than merge with existing ones like the Social Democratic Party (SDP) or the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Dr. Umar Ardo, a convener of the group and a former SDP candidate for governor in Adamawa, explained why creating a new party is preferred.
“It’s not just SDP or ADC or any existing political party. If we just go and collapse, we have lost the momentum. We have diffused the impetus that we would have created if we had applied directly on our own.”
He added that joining an old party poses legal risks if internal members go to court backed by the ruling government.
“They have a victim, or somebody will come and say, ‘I’m elected for this number of years; we have to wait until my time ends.’ And if you say no, the system now sends him to go to court, and the system backs him in court. And if the system backs him and they influence the decision of the court, that is the end of all this.”
Dr. Ardo also dismissed claims that the new party was being set up to favour Atiku.
“Actually, I think that Atiku Abubakar… and I know for a fact, not even I think… Atiku is among those who are trying to get the coalition to fuse into an existing political party. So, if I am taking a position against this view, my view is that we should register, how then does that mean that I am working for his candidacy? Does that make sense?”
Also speaking, coalition member Dr. Katch Ononuju said Peter Obi’s plan to run in 2027 should be accepted by all members if the coalition is to move forward. According to him, Obi “has made it clear” he will contest again.
