Divided opposition will favour Tinubu in 2027 — Yakasai

A former Kano governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2023 elections, Salisu Tanko Yakasai, has cautioned that the emerging division within Nigeria’s opposition could recreate the dynamics that led to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory in 2023.

Reacting to the alignment of Peter Obi and Musa Kwankwaso with the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Yakasai said the formation of two opposition blocs, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the NDC , may split votes and ultimately benefit the ruling party in the 2027 general election.

In a post shared on X, Yakasai described the development as a “blessing in disguise,” arguing that while many Nigerians had hoped for a united opposition front, a single coalition might have faced legal and political challenges that could have kept it off the ballot.

He suggested that the existence of two opposition platforms could complicate any attempt to sideline them, forcing the government to either allow both parties to participate or risk backlash over Nigeria’s democratic credentials.

According to him, the more likely outcome is that both the ADC and NDC will contest the election, resulting in a divided opposition at the presidential level , a scenario he believes would favour Tinubu.

“In that context, the more likely scenario I foresee happening is that Tinubu allows both parties (ADC and NDC) to contest, resulting in a divided opposition heading into 2027. If that happens, we may see a repeat of the 2023 pattern at the presidential level (because this will definitely favour Tinubu), while the ADC and NDC make significant gains in National Assembly races, particularly across the North and East,” he wrote.

Despite the split, Yakasai reaffirmed his loyalty to the ADC and urged both camps to reduce tensions and remain open to future cooperation.

“Politics has a way of bringing unlikely partners back to the table,” he said, noting that collaboration may still become necessary ahead of the 2027 polls.