United in Name, Divided by Ego: Why Nigeria’s Opposition Won’t Win 2027 Presidential Election

Michael Omoruyi, Ph.D., iNewsAfrica Publisher/Contributor

|Published 3:15 PM ET, Friday April 25, 2025|

By Michael Omoruyi, Ph.D., iNewsAfrica Publisher/Contributor

As the countdown to Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election begins, many citizens and political watchers are asking the same question: Can Nigeria’s opposition parties unite to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)?

Theoretically, yes. Numerically, the opposition has the votes. But in practice, Nigeria’s opposition landscape is plagued by a deep-rooted flaw—personal ambition outweighs political strategy. And unless that changes, the dream of a united opposition will remain exactly that—a dream.

The Power Problem: Everyone Wants to Be President

The central challenge to coalition building among Nigeria’s opposition parties is ego. No party leader wants to play second fiddle. Everyone wants the top job. From Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to Rabiu Kwankwaso and rising regional leaders, there is no shortage of presidential hopefuls—just a shortage of selfless strategists.

Rather than working toward a shared vision for national renewal, most leaders are trapped in the mindset of “if it’s not me, it’s no one.” This toxic political culture dooms every attempt at unity.

2023: A Lost Opportunity Repeating Itself

The 2023 election offered a real chance for the opposition to break APC’s hold on the presidency. But the fragmentation of PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP diluted that opportunity. Their failure to unite split the vote, handed APC a pathway to victory, and left many Nigerians disappointed.

Imagine if the opposition had merged: Atiku’s northern grassroots, Obi’s urban youth support, and Kwankwaso’s Kano stronghold could have formed an unstoppable alliance. Instead, ambition outweighed alignment—and Nigeria paid the price.

Why Coalition Talks Always Collapse

Behind every failed opposition alliance lies a familiar question: Who will lead the ticket?

This is the dealbreaker. Every leader wants to wear the crown. Compromise is rare, and consensus candidates are often rejected for lacking party loyalty or regional clout. The result? Parties talk unity but walk alone.

There’s also a deep trust deficit. Many leaders suspect that alliances are Trojan horses designed to sideline them post-election. With no legal or institutional guarantees, coalition talks become little more than public relations stunts.

Short-Term Thinking, Weak Political Culture

One of the reasons Nigeria’s opposition parties can’t sustain alliances is the absence of long-term planning. The APC, flawed as it may be, emerged from a carefully structured merger in 2013. Today’s opposition lacks that discipline.

Without a clear framework for governance, a harmonized agenda, or grassroots coordination, opposition parties remain vehicles for individual ambition, not instruments of national renewal.

Nigerians Deserve Better

Coalition politics, when done right, can work. Across the world, coalitions have brought down dominant ruling parties and ushered in reforms. But for that to happen in Nigeria, opposition leaders must do something they rarely do—put country before self.

They must create a power-sharing structure, agree on a joint policy blueprint, and align their campaign machinery. Until that happens, Nigerians will be left choosing between fragmented hope and familiar incumbency.

The 2027 Election Will Test Nigeria’s Political Maturity

The time for political showmanship is over. If Nigeria’s opposition wants to be taken seriously, it must stop campaigning in silos and start governing as a bloc—at least in principle. The next 18 months are critical. The decision to unite or remain divided will determine whether history is made or repeated.

And if history is any indication, egos may once again bury the ballot.

About the Writer
Dr. Omoruyi is a political affairs columnist for iNewsAfrica, focused on governance, elections, and civic engagement across Africa.