Politics 2027: Atiku-Obi Coalition is Dead on Arrival – Wike’s Aide Declares
The hope of a united opposition against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections may have already hit a dead end at least according to Lere Olayinka, the outspoken aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show, Olayinka dismissed the proposed coalition between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, calling it “dead on arrival.” He said both men who were once running mates in 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are now too politically distant and personally ambitious to work together again.
“Peter Obi and Atiku cannot work together, and they will not,” Olayinka said bluntly. “The moment you talk about a coalition just to fulfill one man’s ambition, Atiku’s ambition that coalition is doomed from the start.”
Atiku, a former Vice President and PDP’s presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023, had recently reached out to Obi to join forces in what he called a united opposition front against President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). But Olayinka argues that this move is less about unity and more about Atiku’s personal dream of occupying Aso Rock.
“Let’s be honest,” he said, “will Atiku step aside and allow Peter Obi to lead the coalition as its presidential candidate? Or will Peter Obi, who now commands a massive youth following, agree to play second fiddle again? It won’t happen. These are strong egos, and no one wants to play number two.”
In 2019, Obi ran as Atiku’s vice-presidential candidate under the PDP. But after their defeat, Obi left the party and ran for president in 2023 under the Labour Party, where he gained significant popularity, especially among the youth. The political distance between the two has widened ever since.
Olayinka, known for his no-holds-barred commentary, insisted that any coalition built around Atiku would fail because it’s designed for one man’s benefit not the common interest of the opposition or the country.
“When a coalition is all about one person, it becomes a personal project, not a national movement. That’s why it cannot work,” he added.
While Atiku and Obi are yet to formally respond to Olayinka’s claims, political analysts are beginning to question whether a grand opposition alliance is even realisticespecially when trust, ambition, and past betrayals are still in play.
As 2027 draws closer, one thing is clear: the road to building a formidable opposition against the APC won’t be easy, and internal rivalries may prove to be the biggest stumbling block.
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Politics 2027: Atiku-Obi Coalition is Dead on Arrival – Wike’s Aide Declares