A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dominic Alancha, has cautioned that a potential alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi could weaken the ruling party’s hold ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Alancha said the combination of Atiku and Obi poses a major electoral threat given their strong base of over 12 million votes in the 2023 elections.
“In 2027, the dynamics may not be the same as what happened in 2023. If Peter Obi and Atiku can align, have a consensus amongst themselves and agree on a single ticket, I’m telling you it’s going to deplete our support base because, at the table, they already have over 13 to 14 million votes,” Alancha warned.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, several opposition leaders, including Atiku, Obi, ex-Senate President David Mark, former ministers Rauf Aregbesola and Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, have adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their coalition platform. The coalition, formalized on July 2, 2025, is seen as a direct challenge to President Bola Tinubu, whose government has been criticized for rising inflation, a high cost of living, and economic instability.
The 9am News report recalls that in 2023, Obi and Atiku combined secured more than 12 million votes, over four million more than Tinubu. Analysts believe this figure could grow if they unite under a single ticket.
Muslim-Muslim Ticket ‘A Risk’
Alancha, who also leads the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF), urged President Tinubu to reconsider retaining the Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027, arguing that it could erode APC’s national appeal and hand the opposition an easy campaign weapon.
“If the Muslim-Muslim ticket is retained, it’s going to pose a threat and deplete our support base. The opposition coalition is not sleeping; they are working very seriously. If Obi and Atiku come together, we are talking almost 14 million votes against our eight million votes from the 2023 general elections,” Alancha stressed.
The NENF had earlier advised Tinubu to adopt a more balanced ticket, warning that the 2023 formula alienated northern Christians and limited APC’s outreach.
The Jonathan Factor
Speculation is also mounting about a possible 2027 presidential bid by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Though Jonathan has not publicly declared any ambition, political lobbying within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fueled speculation of a comeback.
Alancha described Jonathan’s potential return as a “serious political undercurrent” that the APC must not dismiss.
“Jonathan is around the corner. Nobody should wave aside that issue because it’s a serious one. There are certain persons within the North pushing for Jonathan, ‘bring back Jonathan to them’. In fact, they are forming a cult-like following around that agenda,” he said.
According to him, a ballot featuring Jonathan, Atiku, and Obi would make it difficult for APC to sustain the Muslim-Muslim ticket. “If Jonathan is on the ballot, and Atiku and Obi are also there, believe me, the Muslim-Muslim ticket is not going to fly. Let’s have a balance on that ticket,” Alancha added.
While Jonathan’s possible return excites some opposition figures, critics argue it could deepen PDP’s existing internal crisis. The party has faced waves of resignations and defections since 2023, raising doubts about its ability to rally behind a single candidate.
The political scene ahead of 2027 is shaping into a fierce contest, with shifting alliances and high-stakes calculations that could decide whether Tinubu’s APC retains power or opposition forces mount a historic upset.
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