As Nigeria grapples with worsening economic woes, rising insecurity, and general discontent under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, one thing has become glaringly clear: a divided opposition in 2027 will only guarantee four more years of suffering. But a united front, with a single mission to rescue Nigeria, could change the course of history.
The opposition has all it takes to unseat Tinubu — the numbers, the groundswell of public anger, and a moral high ground. What it lacks is cohesion. The 2023 general election painfully proved that running on different platforms — Labour Party, PDP, NNPP, ADC — was a strategic miscalculation that handed Tinubu an underserved victory. If they make that mistake again, the consequences could be far worse in 2027.
But defeating the APC is not just about arithmetic or alliances. It will require an uncompromising resolve, strategic planning, and mass mobilization — not only at the polls but possibly in the streets.
Let’s be honest: Tinubu and his handlers will not give up power without a fight. His rise to the presidency was not by accident — it was built over decades of deep political networking, control of electoral structures, and a no-holds-barred style of politicking. The APC’s desperation to cling to power in the face of growing public rejection means Nigerians should prepare for serious resistance — institutional and possibly violent.
To force real change, we must anticipate that massive, peaceful civil resistance may become inevitable. Not just protests, but a sustained movement that reflects the will of millions of angry Nigerians — workers, students, traders, and the unemployed — who are fed up with the daily suffering caused by bad governance.
International attention must also be leveraged. Already, global human rights groups and democratic institutions are raising concerns about the worsening poverty and governance deficit in Nigeria. These voices must be amplified to build external pressure on Tinubu’s regime. Sanctions, visa restrictions on corrupt officials, and open support for democratic reforms can tip the scales.
If Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other influential opposition figures put ego aside and present a joint ticket — preferably early — they will have the momentum needed to ignite hope and organize the masses. They must start now. Not in 2026. Not after primaries.
In 2027, Nigerians will not just be voting in an election. They’ll be voting for survival. The stakes are high. The pain is real. The opposition must not fail us again.
Mohammed Bello Doka is a public affairs commentator and publisher of Abuja Network News.