Shekarau Dismisses Opposition Coalition, Says Tinubu’s Re-election Is Unchallenged.
Former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, has dismissed the chances of any opposition coalition unseating President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election.
His remarks come just days after a coalition of opposition politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and Labour Party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi, criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the political crisis in Rivers State at a press conference in Abuja.
In a statement released by his media aide, Dr Sule Yau, Shekarau described the coalition as a mere gathering of aspirants rather than a united political front. He emphasised that the principal actors had not consulted their respective party leaderships, making their alliance weak and informal.
Coalition is Not a Merger, Shekarau Insists
Shekarau, who currently serves as a Senator, argued that regardless of the prominent figures involved, the opposition coalition does not constitute a political merger.
“The coming together of some senior members of opposition parties is a welcome development, but none of the principal actors is carrying their party leadership along,” he stated. “A coalition of individuals, no matter how influential, cannot be regarded as a merger, because only registered political parties can legally merge.”
He further asserted that the recent endorsement of President Tinubu’s State of Emergency by the National Assembly demonstrated that the so-called coalition lacks real influence over opposition lawmakers.
Opposition Must Build Structure, Not Just Alliances
Shekarau stressed that for the opposition to make any real impact in future elections, they must involve the full structure of their parties at all levels, rather than relying on high-profile individuals.
“No amount of noise-making or individual alliances in the name of opposition will influence elections unless the entire leadership of the opposition parties is actively engaged,” he concluded.
As Nigeria moves towards the 2027 elections, Shekarau’s statement highlights the challenges facing opposition parties in forming a credible and united front against the ruling APC.
