Atiku, Makinde near deal to unite against Tinubu in 2027

Representatives of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde have held several meetings and reportedly reached compromises towards a possible alliance to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that the discussions between Atiku and Makinde were separate from broader consultations involving opposition leaders seeking to field a common presidential candidate against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Makinde, who is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has repeatedly criticised Tinubu’s administration and supported efforts by opposition figures to unite ahead of the 2027 elections.

On April 25, the Oyo State governor convened an opposition summit at the Government House in Ibadan, where political leaders discussed the possibility of presenting a single presidential candidate against the APC.

However, the initiative has yet to produce an agreement, as Atiku, Makinde and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi have continued to pursue their individual presidential ambitions.

Makinde confirmed on Friday that he was consulting with opposition leaders, including Atiku and Obi.

Speaking in an interview with Arise News, the governor said the discussions could determine whether the politicians would contest against one another or work together in the 2027 election.

“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,” he said.

However, sources in the camps of both Atiku and Makinde told Sunday PUNCH that the possibility of an alliance between the two politicians was high.

According to political figures familiar with the negotiations, representatives of both camps had held several meetings and were making progress towards reaching an agreement.

A South-West leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed optimism that the negotiations would succeed.

The party chieftain described the discussions as fresh, purposeful and promising, adding that both politicians could soon formally unveil their plans.

When asked when the proposed alliance would be made public, the source jokingly replied, “before January 16,” accompanied by a laughing emoji in a text message.

Similarly, an APM candidate familiar with Makinde’s political movement told the newspaper that the governor would work with Atiku in the 2027 presidential election.

The source said a series of virtual and physical meetings had been held in recent weeks, adding that the discussions were yielding progress.

“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.

“What is on the ground shows that both parties have reached compromises and they are going to unveil that very soon,” the source said.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, also confirmed that consultations were ongoing between Makinde and other opposition leaders, although he did not specifically confirm that an agreement had been reached with Atiku.

Oyelade described those involved in the discussions as experienced politicians familiar with contemporary political developments, particularly issues surrounding Tinubu’s administration.

He said Makinde was willing to work with other opposition groups if such an arrangement offered a realistic opportunity to address the country’s 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 sources did not disclose the specific terms of the negotiations or the proposed structure of the alliance, including how the parties might resolve the question of who would emerge as the presidential candidate.

The ADC also confirmed that opposition parties were continuing consultations towards possible collaboration ahead of the 2027 elections.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, told Sunday PUNCH that the discussions involved opposition parties generally and were not restricted to any particular politician or political platform.

“All opposition parties are still talking. And it’s never too late,” he said in a WhatsApp message.

Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, also confirmed that the former vice-president was engaging with opposition leaders.

Shaibu said the consultations were aimed at building a common front to address Nigeria’s challenges and present 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,” he said.

However, neither Abdullahi nor Shaibu confirmed that a specific agreement had been reached between Atiku’s and Makinde’s camps.

With the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, opposition leaders face the task of reconciling their political interests, agreeing on a common strategy and potentially settling for a consensus candidate to challenge Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Although no formal agreement has been publicly announced, the latest disclosures point to ongoing consultations among major opposition figures over possible cooperation ahead of the election.

Meanwhile, the G-100, a political pressure group convened by former Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman, was established to facilitate a broad-based opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.

The group has argued that opposition parties could struggle to challenge the APC effectively if they contest the election independently, given the ruling party’s political structures and electoral advantages.

As part of its efforts, G-100 has held consultations with Atiku, Obi, Makinde and other political figures in pursuit of a common platform and a single presidential candidate.

However, the initiative has faced uncertainty as opposition politicians continue to pursue their individual political ambitions and campaign activities, with no publicly announced agreement on a common candidate.

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