Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in Talks to Form Coalition Ahead of 2027 Presidential Election

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai are in advanced talks over the formation of a political coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.

This was confirmed by Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, during an appearance on Politics Today, a political affairs programme on Channels Television, on Thursday. Ibe disclosed that high-level discussions among opposition leaders are ongoing, with the goal of unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle.

“Yes, it’s out there in the open,” Ibe said. “Discussions have been ongoing between Atiku Abubakar and some opposition leaders—Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai. And at the end of those discussions, a direction will be made public, one that aligns with the aspirations of Nigerians.”

The move is seen as a significant step toward unifying fragmented opposition forces, particularly as internal crises continue to rattle major parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP).

Atiku and Obi previously ran together under the PDP banner in the 2019 presidential election, with Atiku as presidential candidate and Obi as his running mate. The duo lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. Speculations are now swirling that a similar ticket may be floated in 2027.

When asked directly about the possibility of Atiku and Obi sharing a ticket again, Ibe remained cautious but optimistic. “That ticket was viable in 2019 and it’s still viable today,” he said. “But it is left to the individuals to determine how they proceed. Let’s not get ahead of the talks—they are still ongoing.”

Adding another layer to the emerging alliance is Nasir El-Rufai, who recently exited the APC citing political and personal reasons. He has since aligned himself with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a party many now view as a possible launchpad for the proposed coalition.

While Peter Obi has acknowledged his participation in discussions, he has maintained that his priority lies in building a united front to combat Nigeria’s socioeconomic challenges. “I am interested in a coalition against poverty, insecurity, and other issues affecting Nigerians,” Obi stated recently.

The talks have intensified amid mounting public dissatisfaction with the APC-led government and calls for a viable alternative. Political observers say a strategic alliance among Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai—if successful—could significantly reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of 2027.