NIGERIA — Opposition political leaders in Nigeria formed new regional alliances and defected to alternative political platforms to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stated that 22 political parties submitted their membership registers as required by the 2026 Electoral Act for candidate nominations. Okay News reports that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde announced his candidacy for the presidency under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) following a political accord with his faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) zoned its presidential ticket to the southern region of the country to facilitate a potential ticket featuring former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi and former New Nigeria Peoples Party candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi purchased and returned nomination forms to explore a North-East and South-South alliance.
Adewole Adebayo became the first confirmed presidential standard bearer for the 2027 cycle after the Social Democratic Party (SDP) submitted his name to the electoral umpire. During the 2023 election cycle, Peter Obi received 582,454 votes in Lagos State to defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who recorded 572,606 votes in that location. In Osun State, Atiku Abubakar polled 354,366 votes compared to 343,945 votes for the incumbent president.
Enugu West Senatorial District aspirant Ogochukwu Onyema stated that Peter Obi directed supporters to transition from the ADC to the NDC due to internal leadership disputes. Ogochukwu Onyema said: “We found solace in the ADC and groomed the party, but at the point of nominations for the 2027 elections, issues emerged again. We saw many landmines and calculated attempts to frustrate politicians and create a one-party system.”
An official of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement in Anambra State, Jerry Igwekaku, said: “This ticket remains a source of relief for suffering Nigerians and we are not ready to toy with it. It is our life. It is everything to us. Our people love it because Kwankwaso remains a force in the North, while here in the South-East we love Obi. Their combination excites us.”
The NDC leadership rescheduled ward, local government, and state congresses in Enugu State, Abia State, and Anambra State to harmonise membership following the recent defections. This directive followed a meeting held at the residence of the NDC national leader in the Guzape District of Abuja on May 4, 2026.
