A senior figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dominic Alancha, has cautioned that a potential partnership between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Anambra Governor Peter Obi could seriously challenge the ruling party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Alancha warned that a joint ticket featuring Obi and Atiku could erode APC’s support base. “In 2027, the political landscape could shift dramatically. A united front between Peter Obi and Atiku has the potential to draw 13 to 14 million votes, which would significantly impact our chances,” he said.
Opposition Coalition Gaining Momentum
Ahead of the 2027 polls, opposition figures including Atiku, Obi, former Senate President David Mark, ex-ministers Rauf Aregbesola and Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their coalition platform on July 2, 2025. The alliance aims to mount a strong challenge against President Bola Tinubu.
Alancha noted that the combined influence of Obi and Atiku is formidable, given that they together secured over 12 million votes in the 2023 elections—more than four million votes above Tinubu’s total, despite his official victory declared by INEC.
APC Urged to Rethink Muslim-Muslim Ticket
The APC chieftain, who also heads the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF), advised President Tinubu against retaining the Muslim-Muslim ticket for 2027, arguing that it could alienate voters and diminish the party’s national appeal.
“It is never too early to prepare for elections. Success comes to those who plan ahead. While things may seem quiet now, serious challenges will emerge once campaigns begin,” Alancha said.
He further warned that keeping the Muslim-Muslim ticket could give the opposition a strategic advantage. “If the ticket remains the same, it could reduce our support base. The opposition coalition is active and working strategically. If Obi and Atiku join forces, we could be facing nearly 14 million votes against our 8 million from 2023,” he added.
Earlier, the NENF had stressed that repeating the 2023 formula would alienate northern Christians and limit APC’s electoral reach, urging the party to adopt a more inclusive approach ahead of the 2027 elections.