Controversy Over Obasanjo’s Alleged Backing of Tinubu Ahead of 2027 Polls
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is at the centre of a fresh political storm as the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum (YRLF) accuses him of covertly supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 general election.
The forum, led by President Akin Malaolu, claimed in a Sunday statement that Obasanjo’s recent interventions aim to weaken opposition forces and pave the way for Tinubu’s re‑election.
In contrast, Obasanjo’s former political adviser, Dr Akin Osuntokun, dismissed the allegations as baseless, insisting that the ex‑president is actually the chief architect of the opposition alliance between Labour Party’s Peter Obi and former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso under the Nigeria Democratic Congress banner.
YRLF’s Allegations and the Letter to Segun Osoba
The YRLF pointed to a letter Obasanjo sent to former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba, in which he accused his former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, of sponsoring an impeachment plot against him during his tenure.
The forum argued that the letter transcends a personal dispute and constitutes a deliberate assault on Nigeria’s opposition parties. By invoking the late Speaker of the House, Ghali Umar Na’Abba — who cannot respond — Obasanjo is allegedly trying to silence critics.
According to YRLF, Obasanjo’s public backing of the Obi‑Kwankwaso ticket is a smokescreen for his true preference for Tinubu’s second‑term ambition, claiming he consulted with national political leaders before the opposition coalition was formed.
Osuntokun’s Rebuttal and Evidence of the Obi‑Kwankwaso Alliance
Speaking on ARISE Television, Dr Akin Osuntokun described the YRLF claims as “absolute bunkum.” He stated that Obasanjo remains the principal sponsor of the Peter Obi–Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket and was the broker who brought the two politicians together.
Osuntokun added that discussions about a possible Obi‑Kwankwaso partnership began years ago, noting that Kwankwaso once remarked that an early agreement could have allowed each to serve one term, with Kwankwaso benefiting now.
He challenged the notion of a secret Tinubu backing, asking how such a claim could align with Obasanjo’s visible political activities supporting the opposition alliance.
Broader Context: Opposition Realignments Ahead of 2027
The controversy emerges amid intensified coalition‑building by opposition parties seeking to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election. Obasanjo’s renewed feud with Atiku Abubakar — over allegations of an impeachment plot — has further fuelled political tensions.
Atiku, through his media aide Phrank Shaibu, rejected Obasanjo’s claims, defending his opposition to the former president’s unsuccessful third‑term bid as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic history.
