The Coalition of Ambition: Why 2027 Might Still Belong to Tinubu

In 2023, the Nigerian opposition had a golden opportunity to defeat the APC at the polls, but they squandered it. Why? Two words: personal ambition.

Peter Obi’s defection from the PDP to Labour Party weeks before the election was the final nail in PDP’s coffin. By pulling a significant portion of southern youth and Christian votes, Obi effectively split the opposition vote and handed the victory to Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The numbers don’t lie; combine Obi and Atiku’s votes, and the story could have been different.

To be candid, Atiku and Obi have been inconsistent in their political journeys. Atiku has moved from PDP to ACN to APC and back to PDP, while Obi moved from APGA to PDP, and then to LP. While it is not wrong to change parties, when the motivation is clearly personal ambition, not ideology or vision, the public eventually notices. These men are chasing the presidency like a game of musical chairs—jumping from one party to another, hoping one finally puts them in Aso Rock.

Now, they want to form a coalition, ADC, LP, PDP, NNPP, etc. but it’s already looking like a house built on sand. Atiku still wants to be president. Obi believes he is the people’s choice and feels entitled to the presidency. Rabiu Kwankwaso wants his turn too. What happens when all of them sit at the table and no one is willing to give up their ambition?

Meanwhile, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated what it means to play the long game in Nigerian politics. Love him or hate him, the man is a seasoned political strategist. He didn’t just wake up and become president. He spent over two decades building structures, making allies, empowering political foot soldiers from the ward level to the national assembly. He played kingmaker for years and waited for the right moment to strike.

While the others were fighting over who should get the ticket, Tinubu was working the system, understanding the real dynamics of Nigerian politics: grassroots mobilization, structure, patience, and strategic loyalty.

And let’s not forget: after the 2023 election, Peter Obi virtually went silent. The so-called “Obidient” movement lost momentum. No serious political meetings. No town hall forums. No grassroots development. The Labour Party became just another platform, not a movement. You don’t build a national political machine by trending on social media.

Now, as 2027 approaches, the same characters are trying to merge forces, yet no clear structure, no shared ideology, no defined candidate. Just ambition floating on ego.

If we’re being objective, Tinubu stands a real chance of winning again in 2027, and here’s why:

1. Structure: APC still has the widest political structure in Nigeria, from ward to federal level.

2. Incumbency Power: Whether you like it or not, the party in power controls more levers of influence.

3. Disunited Opposition: Unless the opposition agrees on a single candidate and strategy early, they will split the votes again.

4. Time: No politician can build what Tinubu built in just two years. His patience, long-term vision, and networking across Nigeria are unmatched.

In conclusion, politics in Nigeria is not a sprint—it’s a marathon. Tinubu understood that. Atiku and Obi did not. And unless the so-called coalition can put aside ego, agree on one credible candidate, and start building structure from now, 2027 might just be another smooth ride for BAT if care is not taken.

Well, I dey wait for who go gree for who Sha.

Anonymous writer

When you are motivated outside take it inside of you ,because only motivation that will move you forward is self motivation but you need some one or situation to first motivate you.

Africa is full of people with toxic mindset so you must be able to be courageous enough to face distraction on your way to your promise land or destiny. ~JTT