Three prominent opposition leaders—former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi—have vowed to stop President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, citing worsening insecurity, hunger, and poverty in Nigeria.
The trio made their stance clear during a public lecture themed “Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria,” held to mark Amaechi’s 60th birthday.
Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused the Tinubu administration of deliberately using poverty as a tool to control the people.
“What we are experiencing in Nigeria today is state-sanctioned weaponisation of poverty,” Atiku said. He described how poverty and insecurity have become rampant, especially in places like Kano, where he saw people sleeping on the streets—something he never witnessed in his youth.
Atiku stressed the need for opposition unity, saying, “That is why we are in this alliance—to make sure we don’t allow them to continue weaponising poverty.”
Rotimi Amaechi linked the rise in insecurity to growing poverty, blaming the government for making Nigerians poorer.
“We are all hungry, all of us are. If you are not hungry, I am,” Amaechi said. He urged the opposition to unite and put the nation’s interests first if they hope to remove Tinubu from power in 2027.
Amaechi also criticized the political class for failing the people, saying, “No Nigerian leader truly cares about the people. The benefits of the fuel subsidy removal? They’re sitting in the pockets of the elite.”
He added that Nigerians hold the real power to remove underperforming leaders if they are serious about change.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai described the current situation as Nigeria’s worst since its creation in 1914.
“Nigeria is in its biggest trouble since 1914. That’s why we are working and conspiring to build a coalition to take Nigeria back on track—because right now, it is off track,” he said.
El-Rufai blamed “urban bandits”—leaders without competence or vision—for the country’s woes and called for the election of leaders with “competence, capability, capacity, and commitment.”
Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka praised Amaechi’s courage for not stepping down for Tinubu during the 2022 APC presidential primary, saying it was a true display of democratic values.
The Emir of Kano and former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said he only truly understood the scale of poverty after becoming Emir. He urged leaders to show empathy and focus on real solutions for the poor.
Dickson: Opposition Must Be Strategic
Former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, advised opposition leaders to be strategic and united if they hope to unseat Tinubu in 2027. He reminded them to “shine your eyes” as they build coalitions.
APC Responds: Opposition Lacks Capacity
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), through its National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the opposition’s claims, saying they lack the capacity and credibility to unseat President Tinubu.
He described the criticisms as politically motivated and assured that Tinubu remains focused on reforms to lead Nigeria to prosperity.
Efforts to get an official response from the Presidency were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
The political landscape ahead of 2027 is heating up, with opposition leaders promising a strong challenge to President Tinubu’s administration, while the ruling party remains confident in its reforms and leadership.
