Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has dismissed the much-discussed coalition of opposition political parties aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections, calling the effort a “waste of time.”
Fayose, a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the remark while appearing on Politics Today, a political programme aired on Channels Television on Friday. He argued that the proposed alliance lacks credible backing from prominent Nigerians and is therefore bound to fail.
“Their coalition is a dead horse ab initio,” Fayose said. “Tell me one respected Nigerian who has publicly endorsed this coalition.”
The coalition is reportedly being championed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently defected from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
However, Fayose dismissed the initiative as a futile effort, stressing that the PDP governors are not aligned with Atiku and are instead focused on securing their individual political futures.
“If anybody is having issues with his party, he should resolve it within the party. The statements and actions of PDP governors at the recent Ibadan meeting clearly signaled that they are not with Atiku. They’re not going anywhere—they have their own identities,” he said.
Fayose further claimed that some opposition governors actually prefer President Tinubu’s leadership over Atiku’s return, arguing that political survival often overrides party loyalty.
“Let me say this clearly—that coalition exists only in the imagination of those trying to create it. It is, quite frankly, a waste of time.”
Addressing the internal challenges of the PDP, Fayose emphasized that the party must fix its structural problems before attempting to mount any serious challenge against the ruling APC.
‘I will work against Atiku again’
Fayose did not mince words when speaking about Atiku’s possible 2027 presidential ambition. He reaffirmed his stance against supporting Atiku, saying he would oppose him just as he did during the 2023 elections.
“I publicly worked against Atiku before, and I’m saying it again—if Atiku contests in 2027, I will work against him. It’s time we learned our lesson,” Fayose declared.
He attributed the crisis within the PDP to the failure to honor the party’s zoning agreement, which he said should have ensured a power shift to the South following President Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
“After eight years of a Northerner in power, it’s the turn of the South—whether that’s someone from the South East, South West, or South South. Those who handed power back to the North are responsible for the mess the party is in.”
He concluded by advocating for a “gentleman’s understanding” on power rotation, adding:
“You don’t have to like a Nyesom Wike or a Peter Obi, but there should be an unwritten, respected agreement about power shift. That’s how unity is preserved.”
