Keypoints:
- Atiku Abubakar is preparing a seventh presidential bid
- Opposition groups are pushing for a united coalition
- Economic hardship is reshaping Nigeria’s political mood
NIGERIA’S former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is preparing a seventh presidential bid ahead of the country’s 2027 election.
The move could reshape Nigeria’s opposition landscape as rival parties attempt to unite against President Bola Tinubu amid growing frustration over inflation, currency weakness and rising living costs. Atiku has intensified coalition discussions with opposition leaders seeking to build a stronger electoral alliance before the next vote.
Atiku, 79, is reportedly positioning himself at the centre of a broad anti-government coalition designed to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has faced mounting criticism over the economic impact of recent reforms.
Opposition coalition gathers momentum
Talks among opposition leaders have accelerated in recent months as politicians seek to avoid the fragmented voting patterns that contributed to Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 election.
Negotiations have increasingly focused on the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a smaller opposition party attracting senior political figures dissatisfied with both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Analysts say any serious challenge to Tinubu in 2027 will likely depend on whether opposition groups can maintain a united front across Nigeria’s deeply regional and ethnically diverse political system.
Atiku, who served as vice-president between 1999 and 2007, remains one of Nigeria’s most recognisable opposition figures despite several unsuccessful presidential campaigns.
The former vice-president continues to command influence across northern Nigeria, a crucial voting bloc that has historically shaped presidential outcomes. However, critics argue the opposition may eventually require younger leadership capable of energising frustrated youth voters demanding political renewal and economic opportunity.
Economic hardship drives political pressure
The renewed political activity comes as Tinubu’s government struggles to contain the fallout from major economic reforms introduced shortly after taking office in 2023.
The administration removed long-standing fuel subsidies and liberalised the naira exchange rate in a bid to stabilise public finances and restore investor confidence. However, the reforms also contributed to sharp increases in transport, food and energy costs.
Tinubu’s subsidy reforms have become one of the most politically sensitive issues facing the government as households grapple with rising daily expenses.
Many Nigerians have faced worsening transport fares, higher electricity bills and surging food prices since the reforms were introduced, deepening pressure on household incomes across the country.
Nigeria’s annual inflation rate remained above 30 percent for much of 2025, while food inflation placed additional strain on households already battling stagnant incomes and unemployment pressures.
The naira has also experienced significant volatility since currency controls were eased, worsening import costs in Africa’s largest economy.
Supporters of Tinubu argue the reforms were necessary to address structural economic weaknesses and reduce dependence on state subsidies that had drained government revenues for years.
Critics, however, say ordinary Nigerians are paying the immediate price for policies that have yet to deliver broad economic relief.
Familiar political rivals return
A fresh Atiku candidacy would revive one of Nigeria’s longest-running political rivalries, placing him once again against Tinubu, a veteran strategist who built a powerful national coalition before winning the presidency.
Other influential opposition figures are also expected to shape coalition talks ahead of the election, including former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Peter Obi’s emergence in the 2023 election demonstrated the growing influence of younger urban voters dissatisfied with Nigeria’s traditional political establishment.
Political analysts say the biggest challenge facing the opposition may not be defeating Tinubu directly, but overcoming internal rivalries and competing regional ambitions within the coalition itself.
Nigeria’s electoral history shows that fragmented opposition alliances often struggle to sustain momentum beyond early negotiations.
Even so, dissatisfaction over the economy and cost-of-living pressures has created an opening for opposition parties seeking to frame the 2027 contest as a referendum on Tinubu’s economic management.
Political uncertainty grows
Nigeria’s electoral commission has not yet formally opened the presidential nomination process, but behind-the-scenes negotiations are already reshaping the country’s political landscape.
The coming months are expected to determine whether opposition leaders can transform early coalition discussions into a durable political movement capable of mounting a nationwide campaign.
Whether the opposition can convert economic frustration into electoral unity may ultimately determine the shape of Nigeria’s next presidential race.
