Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has dismissed efforts to form a political coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, calling the initiative futile and devoid of widespread support.
In an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, April 18, Fayose, a key member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the proposed coalition—led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—as “a dead horse from the start.”
In recent weeks, various opposition figures have held meetings to discuss forming a unified front to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming election. Atiku, the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023, has been advocating for cross-party collaboration to unseat Tinubu and the APC. However, the proposal has failed to gain significant traction, particularly within Atiku’s own party.
Earlier this week, PDP governors publicly declared that they were not considering any merger or coalition with other political parties, effectively distancing themselves from Atiku’s push for a unified opposition. Fayose pointed to this development as a clear sign that the coalition lacks solid backing, particularly from influential party figures within the PDP.
“The coalition is a dead horse from the start. Tell me one respected Nigerian or influential figure who has supported this coalition,” Fayose said. “The statement by PDP governors in Ibadan shows they are not with Atiku and have no intention of joining this effort. They have their own identity. So, this coalition is just an illusion, a waste of time.”
Fayose further argued that some opposition governors are more comfortable with Tinubu’s leadership than they were with Atiku’s candidacy. He emphasized that the PDP’s internal divisions, stemming from the party’s failure to uphold its zoning principle, need to be addressed before any meaningful coalition talks can take place.
“I publicly worked against Atiku before, and I will say it again—if Atiku runs again, I will work against him. It’s time for us to learn from our mistakes,” Fayose stated. “After eight years of a northern president, it’s the turn of a southerner, whether from the east, south-west, or south-south.”
Blaming the crisis within the PDP on the breach of the party’s informal power-sharing arrangement, Fayose stressed the need for party members to respect unwritten agreements like zoning if the PDP hopes to regain its political relevance. “The people who zoned power back to the north caused these problems,” he said, underscoring that the party’s current disarray stems from its failure to honor internal consensus.
