Nigerian political commentator and publisher Dele Momodu has issued a stark warning to opposition figures considering independent runs in the 2027 presidential election, stating that such efforts would be doomed to fail against the incumbent administration.
Momodu, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, emphasized that the current political landscape, dominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC), makes it nearly impossible for any single opposition candidate to succeed without a unified coalition. He particularly highlighted that even prominent figures like former President Goodluck Jonathan or Labour Party’s Peter Obi would face insurmountable challenges if they ran independently against President Bola Tinubu.
“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,” Momodu stated.
Momodu’s comments come amid a wave of defections from opposition parties to the APC, further solidifying the ruling party’s dominance. He noted that with governors from PDP strongholds like Enugu and Bayelsa switching allegiance, the APC now has unprecedented control over both executive and legislative branches, pushing Nigeria toward a de facto one-party state.
However, Momodu insisted that opposition efforts are not entirely hopeless—if they can form a strategic alliance. He advocated for a specific formula: a Northern Muslim presidential candidate paired with a Southern Christian running mate. This approach, he argued, would effectively counter the APC’s strength by appealing across Nigeria’s primary religious and regional divides.
“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. Opposition must pick a formidable Northern Muslim candidate with a very popular Southern Christian running mate against Tinubu’s likely Muslim/Muslim ticket,” Momodu advised.
He concluded by emphasizing that while the game is not over, the opposition must act decisively and with unity, suggesting that only through a carefully constructed coalition could they hope to challenge the APC’s dominance in the upcoming election cycle.
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