The renewed push for opposition unity ahead of the 2027 general election may have triggered a fresh battle over the proposed presidential ticket of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Multiple sources familiar with ongoing consultations within the opposition said an Atiku-Seyi Makinde presidential ticket is being considered by some political actors seeking to build a strong platform capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development could, however, unsettle the emerging arrangement involving former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who has been linked to Atiku’s vice-presidential calculations.
The latest discussions are reportedly part of broader efforts by opposition leaders to unite ahead of the 2027 election, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) being considered by one bloc as a possible platform for the coalition.
Another group is said to be exploring the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) as an alternative platform for opposition forces.
The renewed consultations have gained momentum amid concerns that continued divisions among opposition parties could once again give the APC an electoral advantage.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is believed to be among the elder statesmen encouraging discussions between major opposition figures.
Sources said another round of consultations linked to the former president could involve key political figures, including Atiku, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, as efforts intensify to determine the structure and leadership of a possible opposition coalition.
The campaign has also received backing from the G100, a coalition of 100 concerned Nigerians advocating a united opposition.
In an open letter titled “The Doctrine of a Necessity for Democratic Opposition,” the group urged opposition leaders to put aside personal ambitions and work towards presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative to the APC.
The group called for an electoral arrangement built around a single presidential candidate, a common programme, coordinated strategy and shared political objectives.
Among those listed in its appeal were Atiku, Peter Obi, Governor Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Amaechi, former Senate President David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and other prominent opposition figures.
Although the G100 said its intervention was not intended to promote any individual or political party, sources said the broader unity discussions have increasingly become linked to negotiations over a possible consensus presidential ticket.
One of the options reportedly gaining traction is an Atiku-Makinde ticket.
Makinde is said to be attracting consideration because of his political influence, his position as a serving governor and the organisational structure available to him.
Sources also said the financial demands of running a nationwide presidential campaign have become an important factor in the discussions, with some opposition figures believing Makinde could contribute significantly to the mobilisation and logistics required for such a contest.
According to the sources, Makinde had featured in earlier discussions over Atiku’s possible running mate before Amaechi emerged in the political calculations surrounding the ticket.
Amaechi’s emergence was reportedly linked to negotiations following disagreements over the presidential nomination process, including threats of legal action over its outcome.
The renewed consideration of Makinde, however, could reopen disagreements within the opposition camp.
Party insiders reportedly said Amaechi, having fought to secure his position in the emerging arrangement, is unlikely to willingly relinquish the vice-presidential slot.
This could become a major obstacle for those promoting the Atiku-Makinde option.
Any attempt to alter an already negotiated arrangement would require extensive consultations among the major stakeholders and could trigger fresh disagreements within an opposition already grappling with competing ambitions.
For the opposition, the challenge is therefore not only to defeat the APC but also to agree on a political arrangement capable of accommodating the interests of its major players.
While there appears to be growing support for greater cooperation and possibly a single presidential candidate, reaching an agreement on who should occupy the presidential and vice-presidential positions remains a major hurdle.
If the Atiku-Makinde proposal gains further traction, the question of Amaechi’s political future within the arrangement could become one of the first major tests of the opposition’s determination to forge a united front ahead of the 2027 elections.
