Opposition Coalition Not About Individuals, Atiku Warns Against APC Plot

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says the growing alliance among opposition parties is not a personal power project but a mission to rescue Nigeria’s democracy.

Speaking through his media adviser, he made it clear that the coalition is not about him, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, or Rotimi Amaechi, but about the country’s future.

Talk of rivalry over who will get the 2027 presidential ticket has dominated public discussion recently, with many focusing on high-profile political names. Atiku dismissed these speculations, explaining that the coalition’s goal is to offer Nigerians an alternative to what he described as an increasingly authoritarian administration. He said the opposition’s real task is to protect Nigeria’s democratic values, not to serve individual ambition.

Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of laying the groundwork to manipulate the 2027 elections. He pointed to the appointment of a former INEC official, who previously led the electoral body’s IT department, as the APC’s new national chairman. He warned that this move could compromise future elections and said the party was preparing to rig rather than rely on its record.

He called on opposition leaders to put aside their differences and focus on unity, warning that internal divisions could be exploited by those determined to hold on to power. According to him, when the opposition is divided, it only benefits those who want to maintain the current system. He said the coalition must stay focused on the real mission, which is to help Nigerians rebuild their country.

Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled Nasir El-Rufai, claiming he is not a registered member. The party said El-Rufai never completed the official registration process at his ward and had instead promoted another party’s agenda. The decision followed a review by the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), which accused El-Rufai of using the party’s name to gain influence within the ADC-backed coalition.

The party said his social media posts suggesting he had joined SDP were misleading. Though some party leaders initially welcomed him, believing he had joined legally, investigations revealed he was never on the official register. His name, which appeared as member number 001 in Kaduna State, was dismissed as fraudulent.

The SDP accused El-Rufai of trying to destabilize the party from within by organizing an illegal meeting and using the party’s image to advance personal interests. In response, the NWC not only expelled him but also banned him from any involvement in the SDP for the next 30 years. This ban includes identifying with the party’s name, logo, organs, or contributing in any form to its activities.

This latest development adds to the growing political tension as Nigeria heads toward the 2027 elections, with alliances forming, rivalries deepening, and the battle for control of the political landscape just beginning.