Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart and media entrepreneur, Dele Momodu, has urged opposition parties to put aside differences and form a united front ahead of the 2027 presidential election if they hope to unseat President Bola Tinubu.
Writing on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Wednesday, the Ovation Magazine publisher expressed concern that recent defections of key PDP governors, including Peter Mbah of Enugu and Douye Diri of Bayelsa, have further consolidated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s control over Nigeria’s political landscape.
APC’s growing dominance
Momodu lamented that the APC now effectively controls both the executive and legislative branches, describing the development as a dangerous slide towards one-party rule.
“Nigeria has comfortably, voluntarily, and predictably, cruised, senselessly, into a one-party state,” he wrote. “Both the executive and legislative arms finally crossed the Rubicon yesterday under the grip of the ruling party, APC.”
Despite his concerns, the former PDP chieftain, who is now with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said he believes a united opposition can still mount a serious challenge in 2027.
Calls for regional strategy
According to Momodu, opposition parties must adopt a clear regional strategy if they hope to compete with Tinubu.
“The opposition has only one option left in order to be competitive since Tinubu has already locked down the South of Nigeria. Opposition must work speedily to lock down the North. With commonsense, this is feasible, even if difficult,” he said.
He dismissed the chances of any Southern candidate defeating the President, stating: “I do not see any Southern candidate giving Tinubu any tough challenge. Not former President Jonathan. Not former Governor Peter Obi. If they run, looking more like independent candidates, they will fail spectacularly.”
Coalition and ticket suggestion
Momodu maintained that the opposition must replicate the kind of coalition that produced the APC in 2015. He suggested that parties should rally behind a Northern Muslim presidential hopeful with a popular Southern Christian as running mate to counter Tinubu’s possible Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“If opposition is serious and determined to do whatever it takes, it must first unite and decide to play the ethnic and religious cards too,” he wrote.
While acknowledging the challenges ahead, Momodu concluded that the 2027 race is still open to a strong and strategic opposition.
“The game is not over. But it requires candidates of absolute necessity,” he added.
