Ibrahim Shekarau, former governor of Kano State and a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has asserted that defeating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election is only possible through a strategic coalition of political parties not individuals.
Speaking to journalists, Shekarau stressed that the opposition must unite through structured political platforms to present a formidable challenge. He clarified a recent misinterpretation of his remarks, stating:
“For the sake of clarity, I did not say the coalition could not defeat Tinubu in 2027. What I said was that a coalition of ‘individuals’ rather than parties could not.”
Recalling his active role in past coalition efforts, Shekarau reflected on the 2011 attempt to form a united opposition front against then-President Goodluck Jonathan. At the time, he was the presidential candidate of the now defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), which sought alliance with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
“I was a principal actor in the 2011 attempted coalition, being a presidential candidate of the ANPP then. We had several meetings at President Tinubu’s residence in Abuja in 2011,” he revealed.
He further recounted a crucial meeting between himself, the late President Muhammadu Buhari (then CPC candidate), and Nuhu Ribadu (ACN candidate), held at Buhari’s Abuja residence. Despite their efforts, the coalition collapsed, and each candidate proceeded into the election under their respective party banners.
“It did not work. So, each of us went into the election separately under our respective parties,” Shekarau said.
He highlighted that the failure of the 2011 talks eventually laid the groundwork for the more successful merger that birthed the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. The major difference, he noted, was the institutional backing and structured negotiation process.
“This time, we pursued the process not as individual candidates or aspirants, but as representatives of our respective parties,” he explained.
“The three parties each set up a 21-member committee, and I had the privilege of leading the ANPP committee.”
Shekarau’s message serves as both a cautionary tale and a strategic guide for the current opposition parties ahead of 2027. He insists that only genuine collaboration between established political entities with shared values, governance structures, and grassroots reach can effectively challenge the ruling APC and its incumbent president.
