Ahead of 2027, opposition groups in disarray, by Kola Amzat

They pretend as if nothing is happening. They continually maintain a dangerous silence. But, Nigerians of sound and discerning minds are aware that there is rumble in the camps of all opposition groups.

The centre could no longer hold. Things have fallen apart. In the fullest of time, opposition members would grapple with this realization.

Nafiu Bala, a former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Party (ADC) in Gombe has declared himself as the national chairman of the party, thus challenging the David Mark chairmanship, accusing him and his ilk of unlawfully taking over the party, as well as breaching its constitution.

A faction within the party had also opposed the ADC’s adoption by the opposition, arguing that the party is not a “private coalition platform” to be commandeered by a select of elite individuals.

Meanwhile, Nafiu Bala has promised to challenge the alleged takeover of the party in court. Without doubt, this is a legal battle that may endure, even, beyond the 2027 general elections.

So, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is a case of a man jumping from a frying pan to fire. Nigerians vividly recollect that the Turakin Adamawa has transverse virtually all the key political parties in the land in his inordinate ambition to become president.

This Writer doesn’t really see Atiku Abubakar vying for presidency, deploying the platform of ADC during the forthcoming 2027 general elections. There is a titanic legal battle lying ahead to further frustrate his dream.

Since the 2023 presidential primary of PDP meant to elect the party presidential flag bearer, the party has been in turmoil, stumbling from one controversy to another, even till date.  

The huge challenge PDP is embroiled seems a payback period for the tribulations and pains the party visited upon Nigerians during its 16 years of inglorious reign.

As I put on this Piece, the party convention scheduled for November 2025 is seriously under threat of not holding as one of major backbones of the party, Wike Nyesom has voiced his opposition to the convention and giving conditions that must be fulfilled before he gives green light, the conditions that the governors of the PDP have vowed not to accede to.

PDP members are also entangled in the cobweb of giving nod for the return of Peter Obi to the party and thereafter, hand him the presidential ticket, a decision that Wike has vehemently rejected, as well as draft the former president, Goodluck Jonathan and, on the platter of gold, hand over the presidential ticket to him, initiative with potential to tearing the party to shreds.

Of course, since the last general election in 2023, the Labour Party has never known peace. If there is any, it’s peace of the graveyard. The party is factionalized into three, with three different chairmen struggling for the soul of the party.

There is the Julius Abure faction. The Nenadi Usman faction is roaring. And, there is the Lamidi Apapa faction. This is how the party has been, since the last general elections, stumbling from one controversy to the other. 

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is not faring better. The party recently suspended its National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, alongside two other national officers over accusations of gross financial irregularity.

Also, in a widely publicized and well attended press conference, the party equally suspended for a whopping 30 years a new entrant, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of using their party as a tool for chess.    

In the last one year, there have been a lot of opposition groups. But, these are the same people who continually seize FCT, Abuja platform to continually declare to Nigerians of their strategic plans to mobilize the consensus across the country to unseat the president and send packing to the APC controlled federal government.

Where are their honours! Where lies their integrity! Where is their dignity!    

As I put on this Piece, it’s very doubtful if Atiku Abubakar would be on the ballot during the forthcoming 2027 general elections. The founders and genuine stakeholders of ADC have vowed to frustrate his emergence as their flag bearer.

Meanwhile, since the declaration of results of the Local Government Elections in Rivers State by the State Electoral Body, the cankerterous Rotimi Amaechi has gone underground.

And, his approach signposts what would happen in 2027 because Nyesom Wike would never cede even an inch of Rivers land to him, which incidentally was supposed to be his base, while launching to national platform.

The most confused politician in the land today is Peter Obi. The former Anambra state governor doesn’t know where to pitch his tent. PDP or ADC, or to remain committed to the Labour Party.

Meanwhile, PDP is a no go party for him, as Nyesom Wike has vowed to extinct, causing confusion in the party, if he comes. Labour Party is muting the idea of suspending him for anti-party activities and in ADC, he has power mongers to contend with.

El-Rufai, having painstakingly assessed his chances and got convinced of the futility of his bidding for any elective post, has declared that he won’t vie for any elective post, but would rather frustrate the return of President Tinubu to office for second term tenure.

For emphasis, the former FCT minister has been politically annihilated in his native state of Kaduna, with unimaginable embarrassment and humiliation during the recently concluded by-elections in the state. He couldn’t even muster victory in his ward, despite so many mischievous acts he put on during the campaigns for the election.

These are characters gallivanting all locations across Nigeria attempting to hoodwink the country men and women, as well as selling falsehood to the populace, and fabricating lies and propaganda to Nigerians concerning policies and programs of the government.

This Writer is encouraging and imploring Nigerians in all nooks and crannies of the need to disregard and resist these people and their antics.

The people should ask them pertinent questions: what were their accomplishments in the top offices they all occupied in the previous past? What do they also forget in the office that they are plotting to come back to achieve?

If it ever happens, Atiku Abubakar presidency would be a monumental disaster for the country, as well as for himself, for he is already jaded, famished and in the twilight.

If providence also makes mistakes to bring about the Peter Obi presidency, Nigerians would continually be subjected to a government of lies, unverified and unsubstantiated data & statistics that would be deployed as instruments for policy and decision making.

And, of course, who would pray and clamour for the Rotimi Amaechi presidency? Looming disaster, anarchy, irrational decision!

Pandemonium and disaffection galore, as well as disunity amongst ethnic groups!

Of course, it would be practically difficult to keep this country together in the event of a Rotimi Amaechi presidency!   

If only some of the overtly ambitious politicians are conscious of enormity and huge demands of the presidency, they would refrain from vying for the office they don’t have the modicum of capacity, maturity and emotional intelligence to run. 

The crux of this Piece is to submit that their antics and gallivanting about the country is nothing but total distraction to the government and the good people of this wonderful country.

The federal administration under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu has charted a new direction for the economy through various reforms particularly the Unification of Forex, Removal of Petroleum Subsidies, the two tough, but, very desirable policies.

From all indications, especially statistics and data emanating from the World Bank, IMF and even local economic bodies, the economy is looking up. Prices of food items are crashing. Inflationary rates are taking a downward journey.

The security team are daily neutralizing the bands of criminals across the country. This includes banditry, kidnappers, religious sects and other criminal elements that have hitherto hold the country by the jugular.

Under President Tinubu’s watch, the nation’s territorial integrity is being protected and strengthened on a daily basis. 

The unity and togetherness amongst the diverse ethnic groups in the country is staging a comeback.

Federal government has committed fortunes on infrastructural developments; modern roads networks across the country, construction of new Rail Facilities, as well as significant improvement on the existing ones, Building Medical Infrastructures, and of course, total renewal of existing educational facilities, as well as investing huge funds on new educational structures across the country.

There are other social intervention programs for every cadre of Nigerians-Individuals, market women, farmers, students, SMEs and corporate organizations.

The president recently assented to new tax laws aimed at strengthening the Nigeria fiscal framework, as well as broadening Nigeria tax administration and overall management.

Just within 2 years of his inauguration, President Tinubu might have succeeded in re-integrating Nigeria with the global communities and international bodies-World Bank, IMF, WHO, United Nations etc.

These propagandists must stay off the lane and allow this president to work, as well as deliver the dividends of democracy to the Nigerian people.

They must face the reality that none of them has capacity and resources to triumph during the forthcoming 2027 presidential elections.

They should therefore maintain comportment, decorum and decency. Nigeria doesn’t belong to them only; we are all stakeholders.

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.