May 25, (THEWILL) – While 2027 political coalition leaders are yet to decide on which party platform to use in pursuit of their ambition to challenge President Bola Tinubu for the presidency in 2027, their scheme is getting stronger by the day.
When former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai defected to the fringe Social Democratic Party, SDP, earlier in the year, many felt the party was the vehicle to drive the coalition. But events have since changed that perception.
Still, more big wigs are joining the coalition boat as it prepares to set sail on the uncharted 2027 seas. Either the SDP or the African Democratic Congress, ADC, may not provide the support.
For now, however, leaders of the party, particularly its presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo, are opposed to the idea. He has been vehement in opposing el-Rufai’s membership. He claimed the former Kaduna governor must go register at the ward level, and through the state before claiming national leadership, arguing that the party will not sell its ticket to the highest bidder.
Last week, he sustained his fight against el-Rufai by claiming that the SDP was not involved in any coalition talks with another party and if it was to do so, the leaders that will give the go ahead are its National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gaban and National Secretary, Olu Agunloye. He said, “The SDP is led by Alh. Shehu Gabam and Olu Agunloye.
He has not given me an assignment to do a coalition on his behalf. “He’s not given any assignment to my senior brother, El-Rufai. El-Rufai is not representing the SDP in any coalition.” According to him, the party on its own is making its plan strategically and would soon unveil them.
“The SDP is waiting, expressing its own understanding of how best it will come together and remove the APC and non-performing president called Bola Tinubu,” he said, adding that, “The SDP has plans, and we are looking at various options. And we realise that at the end of the option, we will need a political party that is viable.”
In the face of this antagonism and the allegations that the SDP has been infiltrated by fifth columnists sponsored by the government, the coalition partners are considering using the Ralph Nwosu led- , ADC, another fringe party that has two Representatives and members in the Bauchi Assembly. In 2025, it had five Reps drawn from constituencies in Oyo State.
Harping on this new- found platform last Wednesday, el-Rufai who was a guest speaker at a conference revealed to the audience that the coalition had met to discuss the implications of using the party.
El-Rufai said so during the second edition of the Arewa Tech Fest, a three-day event he convened in Katsina aimed at fostering technological innovation in northern Nigeria. The festival brought together startups, investors, tech professionals and policy leaders.
El-Rufai, who arrived late to the programme, apologised to participants, attributing his delay to a crucial “coalition meeting” aimed at ousting President Tinubu, held the previous evening. “They (the organising team) had to come without me because yesterday (Tuesday) at 8pm there was a very important meeting of the coalition we’re putting together to ensure that President Tinubu goes back to Lagos,” el-Rufai stated.
El-Rufai further clarified: “I had to attend that meeting at 8pm. The Katsina airport does not operate after 8pm, so I could not come until this morning.”
He jokingly added that the coalition would retain the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, “because he is doing good work.” He has applauded the performance of Tijani, revealing that the tech minister will retain his portfolio if the coalition succeeds in sending Tinubu back to Lagos come 2027.
Other coalition partners, particularly former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, are also in talks about the viability of the ADC as a platform for its 2027 presidential ambition. But the final details are still being worked out, according to former National Vice-Chairman, Northwest of the APC, Salihu Lukman, who took time to debunk earlier reports that the party has been adopted as the platform of the coalition.
Meanwhile, the ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, disclosed to a national newspaper that adoption talks with Atiku, Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and other political figures, have gone fareaching.
APC has however said that the coalition will fail and Tinubu will be re-elected in 2027. According to the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, “Atiku, Obi, and other coalition leaders are destined to lose the 2027 General Election.”
According to Lukman: “The public should disregard the story as it is completely false. No such decision has been taken. Also false is the report that the coalition has adopted the ADC at its meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The truth is negotiations among all the coalition leaders are progressing very well and final decisions about the political platform for the 2027 election will be taken soon.
Unfortunately, there appears to be some mischief makers promoting and planting stories in the media with the clear aim of sowing seeds of discord among coalition leaders. The public and the media should please disregard all these mischievous stories.”
Yet, the group is waxing stronger by the day. As promised recently, former Minister of Interior and governor of Osun State Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who resigned from the APC alongside his group Omoluabi Progressives, welcomed Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President Namadi Sambo to Osun for the coronation of the 49th HRH Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup on Friday.
Aregbesola had addressed his group a few days before his coalition partners would be unveiled at the coronation. Others who warmly received the entourage of the two former Vice Presidents alongside Aregbesola were prominent Osun political figures, including former APC Chairman in Osun State, Lowo Adebiyi; and Chairman of Omoluabi Progressives, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji.
Others included the former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti and former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam.
In addition, that previous day in Abuja, the League of Northern Democrats met to discuss their role in the ongoing coalition talks. Convener of the League, Dr. Umar Ardo alongside former Kano governor, Ibrahim Shekarau and other prominent northern politicians, explained that the group has set up two committees to explore the possibility of forming a new political party or joining an existing one. Ardo disclosed that el-Rufai said SDP is interested in being considered for the fusing, while ADC is waiting on the wings, too.
To resolve the matter, former Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke would head the Committee charged with looking for a party to join while former Rivers State governor Rotimi Ameachi heads the Committee tasked with registering a new party. Final decisions on all these items would be taken on May 30, 2025, Ardo said.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
