Former All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Salihu Lukman, has disclosed that efforts are underway to persuade former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to work together and potentially present a single presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Lukman made the disclosure during an interview with Arise News, where he argued that Nigeria’s opposition forces must move beyond competition among themselves and concentrate on defeating the ruling APC at the next presidential poll.
According to him, the proposed alliance is intended to create a coordinated political platform through which the major opposition figures can operate collectively and offer Nigerians a common alternative to the Tinubu administration.
He stressed that producing one presidential candidate should not be achieved through unilateral decisions or public declarations. Rather, he said, the individuals involved must engage in discussions and collectively establish the conditions and method for selecting whoever would eventually represent the opposition.
Lukman explained that neither Atiku nor Obi should be expected to simply surrender their ambitions. Instead, both camps must determine acceptable criteria that would allow them to reach an agreement on the candidate most capable of securing victory.
He maintained that the focus should not be on determining which opposition politician is more popular among supporters, but on building a relationship strong enough to produce an effective electoral alliance.
The former APC chieftain said the central question before Atiku, Obi and other opposition figures is whether they merely want to participate in the presidential contest or genuinely intend to win and govern Nigeria.
He argued that anyone serious about defeating the incumbent must be prepared to make strategic compromises and accept conditions necessary for building a successful political coalition.
Lukman further maintained that the opposition’s principal challenge is President Tinubu and the APC, rather than other politicians seeking the presidency.
He warned that treating fellow opposition candidates as primary rivals could weaken the broader effort to challenge the ruling party and ultimately divide votes that could otherwise strengthen an alternative candidate.
According to him, the initiative currently being promoted involves developing an organisational framework capable of bringing opposition figures and their supporters together.
He said the proposed structure would enable the different political interests to coordinate their activities, build trust and eventually approach the 2027 election with a common strategy.
Lukman added that the objective is to present Nigerian voters with a credible alternative capable of generating confidence across different sections of the country.
He argued that Nigerians deserve a political choice that offers hope for improved governance and stressed that the next presidential election should provide voters with an opportunity to make a meaningful decision about the country’s future.
The former APC leader expressed optimism that the opposition figures understand the importance of cooperation and the need to make difficult political decisions if they are determined to defeat the ruling party.
He maintained that unity would be critical because presenting multiple strong opposition candidates could fragment the electorate and potentially work in favour of the incumbent.
Lukman therefore urged Atiku, Obi and other opposition stakeholders to prioritise the broader national objective over individual ambitions.
He said the ultimate goal of the proposed arrangement is to create a united opposition capable of giving Nigerians a credible presidential option in 2027 and mounting a serious challenge to Tinubu and the APC.
