Fresh details have emerged about ongoing negotiations between former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over a possible political alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Representatives of the two politicians have reportedly held a series of meetings and reached compromises as discussions intensify over a possible arrangement to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sources familiar with the negotiations disclosed that discussions between Atiku and Makinde were progressing, with both camps optimistic about reaching an agreement that could see the two politicians work together in the 2027 election.
A report by the Punch indicated that the negotiations between the former vice-president and the Oyo State governor were separate from broader consultations among opposition leaders seeking to present a common presidential candidate against Tinubu.
Makinde has been among the prominent opposition figures critical of Tinubu’s administration and has supported efforts to unite opposition politicians ahead of the next general election.
On April 25, the governor convened an opposition summit at the Government House in Ibadan, Oyo State, where political leaders discussed the possibility of presenting a single presidential candidate to challenge the APC in 2027.
However, efforts to establish a broad opposition coalition have yet to produce a concrete agreement, as major political figures, including Atiku, Makinde and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, have continued to maintain their presidential ambitions.
Despite the differences, Makinde recently confirmed that he was consulting with opposition leaders, including Atiku and Obi, over possible political cooperation ahead of the election.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Friday, the governor said the ongoing discussions could determine whether the politicians would eventually become rivals or collaborators in the 2027 presidential contest.
“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,” Makinde said.
However, fresh disclosures from individuals familiar with the negotiations suggest that the discussions between Atiku and Makinde have made considerable progress.
A leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the South-West, expressed optimism that the proposed alliance would materialise.
The party chieftain described the negotiations as fresh, purposeful and promising, adding that both politicians could soon formally announce their plans.
When asked when the proposed agreement would become public, the ADC leader jokingly replied, “before January 16.”
Similarly, an Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate familiar with Makinde’s political movement disclosed that the governor was expected to work with Atiku in the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, several meetings involving representatives of both camps had taken place in recent weeks, with discussions reportedly producing positive outcomes.
“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,” he said.
He added that both camps had made compromises and were expected to unveil the proposed arrangement soon.
“What is on the ground shows that both parties have reached compromises and they are going to unveil that very soon,” the APM candidate stated.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, also confirmed that Makinde was involved in discussions with opposition leaders, although he did not specifically confirm that an agreement had been reached with Atiku.
Oyelade described the politicians involved in the consultations as experienced individuals “who know the vagaries of contemporary politics, especially as they relate to the Tinubu issues.”
He explained that Makinde was willing to work with other opposition leaders if such an arrangement offered a realistic opportunity to address Nigeria’s economic and political 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 said.
However, the specific terms of the negotiations remain unclear. Neither side has disclosed the proposed structure of the alliance or how the two politicians intend to resolve issues surrounding the presidential ticket and other political considerations.
The ADC has also confirmed that opposition parties are continuing discussions towards possible collaboration ahead of the 2027 election.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, revealed that consultations were ongoing among opposition parties and were not restricted to any particular politician or political platform.
“All opposition parties are still talking. And it’s never too late,” Abdullahi wrote in a WhatsApp message to the newspaper.
Atiku’s camp also confirmed that the former vice-president was engaging with opposition leaders as part of efforts to establish a common front ahead of the next presidential election.
His Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the consultations were aimed at bringing opposition figures together to address the country’s challenges and provide Nigerians with 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,” Shaibu said.
However, neither Abdullahi nor Shaibu specifically confirmed that Atiku and Makinde had reached an agreement.
The proposed alliance comes amid growing efforts by opposition politicians to develop a common strategy against the APC ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
One of the major challenges facing the opposition remains the need to reconcile competing political ambitions and agree on a candidate capable of representing a united front.
Although Atiku, Makinde and Obi have been involved in consultations, their individual presidential ambitions have complicated efforts to reach a consensus on who should lead the opposition into the election.
Meanwhile, the G-100, a political pressure group convened by former Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman, has also been working to facilitate a broad-based opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.
The group has held consultations with Atiku, Obi, Makinde and other political figures as part of efforts to build consensus around a common political platform and a single presidential candidate.
Its position is that opposition parties could face difficulties challenging the APC if they approach the election independently rather than working together.
However, the continued pursuit of individual political ambitions by prominent opposition figures has raised questions about whether the broader coalition initiative will produce an agreement before the election.