The senior political assistant to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Demola Olarewaju, has warned that the opposition’s momentum could collapse if the former vice president withdraws from the 2027 presidential race.
Olarewaju, in a post on X on Tuesday, argued that Atiku remains central to the opposition’s efforts to mount a serious challenge to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election.
According to him, the dynamics of an election involving an incumbent president are significantly different from those of a transition election.
“Atiku steps down now and opposition momentum dies totally – an election with the incumbent as contestant is a different ballgame from a transition election,” he wrote.
The aide further argued that Atiku’s political relevance extends beyond the 2027 election, describing him as a “bridge” through which the opposition could build a stronger political bloc beyond the next presidential contest.
“2027 is beyond Atiku. Atiku himself is the bridge for us to build and hold an opposition core, post-2027,” Olarewaju stated.
He also maintained that Atiku is currently the opposition figure with the capacity to compete with Tinubu both within Nigeria and on the international stage.
“Atiku is the only candidate showing capacity to match Bola Tinubu locally and internationally in 2027,” he said.
Olarewaju also reflected on the 2023 presidential election, attributing the APC’s setbacks in some areas to what he described as limited involvement by former President Muhammadu Buhari in Tinubu’s campaign.
“2023 went the way it did because Buhari wasn’t too invested in Tinubu’s victory, that’s why APC lost Lagos and communal rigging was allowed in many states,” he alleged.
His comments came amid renewed efforts by opposition politicians and groups to forge a common front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At a press conference organised by the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, members of the G100 initiative called on presidential candidates, opposition party leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to unite against the APC.
The group expressed concern over what it described as the hardship confronting Nigerians under the Tinubu administration, arguing that the country needs a more responsive and humane government.
G100 comprises lawmakers and prominent Nigerians associated with the ADC, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Accord Party and Labour Party (LP), among others.
Leader of the Minority Caucus, Hon. Fred Agbedi, said the group had held discussions with presidential candidates and leaders of opposition parties, stressing that unity remained essential if the opposition was to defeat the APC in 2027.
“We need a strong and virile opposition. We cannot achieve this without the collective efforts of party leaders, individuals and other stakeholders,” Agbedi said.
“Whatever we need to do to deliver Nigerians as an opposition we’ll do.”
The caucus said the opposition parties, in their current form, remain fragmented and lack the unity of purpose required to dislodge the ruling party.
It described G100 as an organic initiative designed to bring opposition forces together and improve their chances of securing victory in the 2027 general elections.