*In That Event, Coalition’s Loss, Tinubu’s Gain,Observers Say
By our reporter
It may be advantage President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential poll,if simmering tensions within the fold of the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC) over who gets the presidential ticket, are not staunched.
Already, Director General (DG) of Obidient Movement and former spokesman of the Peter Obi presidential campaign in 2023, Yunusa Tanko, has sounded a note of warning as to the alternative direction of presidential aspirant for 2027, Obi, if the latter fails to clinch the coalition ticket.
Yunusa said: “Obi has already stated that he will contest in 2027, whether we get the coalition ticket or not.
“So, we are not even contemplating whether or not he will run. But when we get to that level, the platform will be revealed.”
He disclosed this during the second Annual Colloquium in honour of Associate Professor Abdulmumin Ajia in Abuja, yesterday.
Aside Obi, the coalition, which comprises several political heavyweights, has in its fold former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President David Mark; former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; and many others, is reportedly experiencing tensions over who gets its presidential ticket for 2027.
Should Obi go solo, observers say, it will leave whoever gets the coalition’s nod weak, potentially robbing them of votes to oust Tinubu.
They point to Obi’s large followership through the nationwide Obidient Movement,most of whom are youths, adding that the youth form about 65% of the nation’s voting population.
According to them, should a Northern aspirant get the ticket, he may not get solid votes beyond his geographical zone -a development that may not clinch the election for the coalition.
In the event of Obi going it alone, and with the coalition’s potential phalanx of solid votes now split, they claim, it could play to Tinubu’s electoral advantage.
The coalition has restated that its objective is to unseat Tinubu in the next general election cycle.
Tanko,who represented Obi at the event, urged the coalition leadership to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South in the spirit of fairness, equity, and national cohesion.
Obi has said he would do just one term of four years,if given the coalition ticket and wins in the election proper, before handing over to the North in 2031.
President Tinubu is in his first term with another term outstanding for the South in consonance with a gentleman’s agreement on power rotation between the North and South.
The now-late President Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu’s immediate predecessor, hailed from the North and did two unbroken terms of eight years.
Tank argued: “Why should we have a Northerner again when we can easily allow the South to complete their tenure to promote unity and cohesiveness? Afterwards, our Northern brothers can take up their eight years.”
He warned against repeating past political mistakes that derailed national aspirations, pointing to the annulment of the late MKO Abiola’s victory in the 1993 presidential election.
Tanko said Obi is a committed and capable leader who possesses the competence to transform the nation, urging the coalition to rally behind him to avoid another political blunder.
Also speaking, the celebrant, Associate Professor Ajia, described ADC as a credible and independent platform with the potential to redefine the nation’s political landscape.
