By Ameh Gabriel
Abuja, Nigeria – July 2025
Prominent political activist and legal practitioner, Deji Adeyanju, has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains the most likely figure to clinch the presidential ticket of any opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.
Adeyanju made the assertion in an interview with THE WHISTLER shortly after Atiku formally announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a party he has exited three times since 2007.
Atiku’s latest exit comes amid efforts by leading political figures, including Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Bukola Saraki, to build a formidable coalition using the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a unifying platform to challenge the ruling party in 2027.
In his resignation letter dated July 14, 2025, which was released publicly by his media aide, Abdul Rasheeth, Atiku cited a divergence from the PDP’s founding principles as his reason for leaving the party.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognizing the irreconcilable differences that have emerged,” Atiku wrote.
Reacting to the development, Adeyanju said Atiku holds the strongest chance to emerge as the presidential candidate of the emerging opposition alliance, citing his vast political network and deep-rooted influence in the North.
“As of today, Atiku will secure the coalition ticket easily. I don’t see others putting in the work to stop him,” he stated.
Adeyanju noted that while Atiku could still face a competitive primary process, his national reach and history of coalition-building give him a distinct edge.
“Atiku can be defeated, as we saw in the 2014 APC primaries. Wike nearly stopped him in 2022, if not for Tambuwal’s late-stage endorsement. But defeating him requires more than social media campaigns it takes real political groundwork,” he said.
Taking a direct swipe at supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Adeyanju warned against expectations of a “free ticket” in the coalition.
“This is not the Labour Party. If you want a free ticket, go back to LP,” he said.
“Instead of lamenting online, Obi’s camp should engage in alliance-building, especially in the North. That’s how politics is won.”
He advised Obi and other aspirants to build cross-regional coalitions and engage Nigeria’s political realities with strategy rather than sentiment.
As 2027 approaches, the coalition still in its formative stages appears to be gathering steam with influential political heavyweights aligning forces. However, the battle for the coalition’s presidential ticket may yet become a defining moment in Nigeria’s next political chapter.
