President Bola Tinubu has ridiculed opposition figures forming a coalition to challenge him in the 2027 presidential election, describing them as “politically displaced persons”.
During his one-day presidential visit to Nasarawa State on Wednesday, Tinubu inaugurated several projects and dismissed his political rivals, urging his supporters to ignore their efforts.
“Don’t pay them any attention,” he said. “They are political IDPs. Don’t give them a home. Hope is here.”
Tinubu commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for driving development across the state and pledged continued federal support for his administration. “Sule is doing well. We will support whatever he initiates for the prosperity and rebirth of Nasarawa,” the President stated.
In response, Governor Sule appealed to President Tinubu to initiate full-scale oil and gas exploration in the Obi Local Government Area, where over one billion barrels of hydrocarbons were discovered in 2023.
“We are asking Your Excellency to ensure the drilling of the next well — an appraisal well — and implement a development plan so production can begin,” Sule said. “With deep onshore operations, Nigeria could develop integrated oil and gas facilities akin to Saudi Arabia’s — from exploration and refining to export.”
Opposition Coalition Gathers Pace
Meanwhile, discussions among key opposition figures aimed at forming a united front ahead of 2027 are gaining momentum. PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai are reportedly in talks to form a coalition.
Speaking on Politics Today on 22 May 2025, Atiku’s spokesman Paul Ibe confirmed the coalition plans. “There are ongoing discussions among Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai,” he said. “They will soon reach a resolution aligned with the aspirations of Nigerians.”
Last week, a group called the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG), led by former Senate President David Mark, applied to register a new political party — the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) — with INEC. The group also reportedly includes former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi.