Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi have called for unity, conscience-driven leadership and a genuinely free electoral process ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Both leaders spoke in Abuja at the public presentation of The Loyalist, a new book by former APC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, an event that drew figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition blocs.
Atiku, who served as Special Guest of Honour, criticised the current administration and said opposition forces must work together to offer Nigerians a credible alternative.
“This convergence within the ADC is perhaps the only positive development in our recent political history,” he said, adding that political loyalty should be based on accountability, justice and the common good rather than personal interest.
Peter Obi, in his remarks, stressed the importance of ideas, experience and collective responsibility in nation-building. He also reaffirmed his commitment to representing the South-East within the emerging opposition coalition.
“We will stand firm, we will stand together, and we will not fail the Nigerian people,” Obi said, while encouraging public figures to document their experiences to help shape national values.
Former Minister of Interior and ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola dismissed claims that governors defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would determine the outcome of the 2027 elections. He argued that past results show voters, not governors, ultimately decide election outcomes when the process is credible.
“In the South-West, where the APC controlled almost all the states, the party could only manage about 55 per cent of the votes in the last election,” Aregbesola said. “These results prove one thing: governors do not win elections, the people do.”
He challenged the Federal Government to guarantee a transparent electoral process, saying that only a free and fair election would truly test the strength of political parties.
Former Senate President David Mark described the task of “rescuing Nigeria” as a collective responsibility and praised Abdullahi as a principled figure committed to national interest.
Author Bolaji Abdullahi used the occasion to urge greater unity within the opposition, warning that Nigerians are looking for cooperation rather than division among political leaders.
“For 2027, Nigerians are ready, but we are not ready enough,” he said. “We must come together, and we must not fail.”
