The opposition may be unknowingly paving the way for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to retain power in 2027, according to a leading chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Salihu Mohammed Lukman.

Lukman, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, July 30, 2026, warned that the continued rivalry and personal presidential ambitions among prominent opposition figures could once again cost them the opportunity to defeat the ruling Party.

He specifically pointed to former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi, arguing that their inability to put aside individual ambitions and work through a common platform remains one of the biggest obstacles to unseating the APC.

According to Lukman, widespread dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration’s economic policies should ordinarily give the opposition an advantage, but he warned that internal divisions could squander that opportunity just as they did in previous elections.

“Lack of unity among the opposition was largely responsible for the electoral victory of APC. The same reality is manifesting itself again with the same two leading opposition personalities emerging as candidates against President Tinubu,” Lukman stated.

He questioned why opposition politicians would continue on separate paths if their primary objective was truly to defeat the APC and Tinubu.

“If truly their objective is about defeating APC and President Tinubu, why are they unable to recognise that once they are divided, it is as good as conceding electoral victory to APC and President Tinubu?”

Lukman also expressed concern that Nigerian voters were increasingly becoming disillusioned with opposition politicians who, he said, appeared more interested in securing presidential tickets than pursuing meaningful democratic reforms.

“Outside appearances and the personalities emerging as candidates for the 2027 elections, there is substantially hardly anything distinguishing the actors contesting the elections,” he added.

While acknowledging the severe socio-economic difficulties Nigerians have experienced under the APC administration, Lukman said the current approach of the opposition did not provide a convincing alternative.

He likened the level of public anger against the Government to “living in a teargassed environment”, but warned that replacing the APC without establishing a strong and accountable political structure could simply produce another set of politicians who would disappoint Nigerians.

“With every passing day, combinations of inaction and replication of old approaches is sending worrying signals that the 2027 election is presenting Nigerians with a choice between the devil and deep blue sea,” Lukman warned.

He argued that the absence of a strong party structure capable of regulating the conduct of opposition leaders such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi could result in Nigerians suffering the same disappointment they have experienced under the APC.

“Without a strong party whose leadership and organs are empowered to regulate the conducts of Alh. Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi, the propensity that they will also disappoint Nigerians on the same scale as APC and President Tinubu, if not worse, are also high.”

The ADC chieftain further warned that continued pursuit of individual political interests could lead to widespread voter apathy and further undermine confidence in the electoral process.

He predicted that, unless there was a significant change in the opposition’s strategy, the 2027 presidential election could record fewer than 10 million votes if the ballots were allowed to count.

“Unless something drastic happens, if votes are to count, the 2027 elections may not register total of more than 10 million votes in the Presidential election,” Lukman cautioned.

He said low voter participation could ultimately favour whoever possesses the “more efficient rigging capacity.”

Lukman therefore called on opposition leaders to immediately return to the negotiation table and establish a binding agreement that would enable them to contest the 2027 election as a united force.

“We need to demand that if the opposition as is currently constituted want citizens to take them seriously, they must go back to the negotiation table and work out an agreement that would enable them to contest the 2027 elections as a united front,” he stressed.

He also challenged Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and other opposition leaders to demonstrate that their political ambitions are driven by patriotism rather than personal interests.

“Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and all the other opposition leaders must be challenged to prove their patriotic disposition…”

Lukman concluded that Nigerians should not invest their confidence in the opposition if the 2027 contest ultimately becomes a battle centred on the individual ambitions of its leading politicians.