Why Peter Obi Does Not Need Atiku’s Coalition to Defeat Tinubu in 2027 — NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other political actors are not necessary for Labour Party’s Peter Obi to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking exclusively, the Deputy President of the NLC Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, said:
“Peter Obi doesn’t need any coalition to win the 2027 presidential election. He is a sellable candidate. If you recall, he was already coasting to victory in the 2023 elections before the controversial glitches. He even defeated Tinubu in his own stronghold in Lagos, which shows Nigerians want him in power.”
Talks of a grand coalition involving Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and other political heavyweights have gained traction in recent weeks. El-Rufai, a former APC chieftain and ex-Kaduna State governor, recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). While Governors of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) recently refuted any mass defection to APC, El-Rufai on Monday claimed that the coalition does not need governors to defeat Tinubu.
“A governor has only one vote. Nigerians have many more votes than one governor or even 36 governors combined. It doesn’t matter if you gather all the governors together; if the people of Nigeria say they are not with you, it is over,” the ex-governor said.
However, his statement comes in light of the mass defection of the entire PDP structure in Delta State, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate.
But Obi’s camp remains confident.
“For as long as INEC conducts a free and fair election, he will win. He can also leverage his local and international connections to make it happen,” Ndubuaku said.
Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidients Movement, also affirmed unwavering support for Obi regardless of party platform.
Echoing that stance, Ndubuaku added, “No serious candidate will consider the PDP as a viable platform at this point… Moving from LP to PDP would be like jumping from frying pan to fire.”
