In a bold and public outcry, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directly challenged Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, over alleged involvement in a burgeoning opposition coalition reportedly led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.
The rumored alliance, which is already sending ripples across Nigeria’s political landscape, is said to be a strategic front aiming to wrest power from the Tinubu-led administration in the 2027 general elections. Although unconfirmed, the coalition has gained traction in political circles and online platforms following a wave of posts on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that economic hardship and perceived underperformance by the current administration have galvanized the opposition’s resolve.
According to one viral post, Amaechi was allegedly quoted saying hunger in the land had pushed him into an alliance with Atiku and El-Rufai. While the authenticity of the quote remains in doubt, it reflects a sentiment of disillusionment among some political stakeholders and Nigerians who feel the present government has fallen short after two years in office.
But perhaps the most curious part of President Tinubu’s outburst is the logic behind it. How does one accuse a PDP stalwart like Abba Moro of secretly aligning with a PDP leader like Atiku? That’s like accusing a fish of secretly swimming with other fish — a bizarre stretch even by political theatre standards. If the president truly believes that members of an opposition party collaborating with each other is a covert betrayal, then he may need a refresher on the basics of partisan politics.
What this episode reveals, however, is not just faulty political arithmetic — it shows a president increasingly haunted by shadows of potential alliances. It seems Tinubu cannot stomach the idea of any politician having the courage (or as Nigerians would put it, “the liver”) to challenge him. And in a country where frustration is boiling over from every corner — fuel prices, food costs, electricity, insecurity — the real coalition he should be worried about is the one forming at the grassroots level: angry, disillusioned citizens who expected renewed hope but instead got recycled hardship.
Political observers interpret Tinubu’s accusation as more than a personal jab — it's a preemptive strike from a man who sees enemies everywhere but answers nowhere. The drama is not without irony; Tinubu, who once built coalitions to dislodge power, now trembles at the mere whisper of similar tactics being used against him.
Senator Abba Moro has remained calm amidst the storm, neither confirming nor denying his alleged membership in the so-called coalition. And why should he? After all, if loyalty to one's party leader — in this case, Atiku Abubakar — is now considered treasonous by the presidency, then Nigeria’s democracy has truly entered a confusing new chapter.
The online speculation paints the so-called coalition as one focused on correcting Nigeria’s economic decline and restoring institutional credibility. However, many commentators are skeptical about its viability. Forming such an alliance would mean navigating Nigeria’s intricate party structures, internal primaries, and longstanding political rivalries — obstacles that have thwarted similar efforts in the past.
Still, the president’s decision to name-drop Abba Moro in a public setting reflects more than strategic political warfare — it reveals a sense of entitlement, an old-school belief that anyone who dares to disagree must be plotting a coup. It is this same mentality that has hindered open dialogue and fuelled polarization at a time when the nation needs unity and pragmatic leadership the most.
For now, the existence of the coalition remains speculative and unverified. But one thing is certain: the battle for 2027 has unofficially begun, and President Tinubu, it seems, is already sweating.