Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and publisher of Ovation magazine, Dele Momodu, has urged opposition parties to unite. He recently revealed that going the ethnic and religious route will help the opposition challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement shared on X, Momodu reacted to the recent wave of defections rocking the PDP, including Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah’s defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri’s resignation.
According to him, the ruling APC has consolidated its grip on power with the latest defections, and both the executive and legislative arms are now firmly under its control.
He, however, expressed optimism that the opposition still has a chance to compete, stressing the need for the opposition to lock down the North quickly ahead of 2027.
“Nigeria has comfortably, voluntarily, and predictably, cruised, senselessly, into a one-party state…
Both the executive and the legislative arms finally crossed the Rubicon yesterday under the grip of the ruling party, APC.
The opposition has only one option left in order to be competitive since Tinubu has already locked down the South of Nigeria, seemingly, opposition must work speedily to lock down the North.
With commonsense, this is feasible, even if difficult,” he wrote.
Momodu further noted that no Southern candidate, including former President Goodluck Jonathan or Labour Party’s Peter Obi, can pose a serious challenge to Tinubu in 2027 if they contest independently.
He concluded by urging the opposition to form a formidable coalition similar to the one that produced the APC in 2015, insisting that a Northern Muslim presidential candidate and a Southern Christian vice president would make the most sense.
“I do not see any Southern candidate giving Tinubu any tough challenge. Not former President Jonathan. Not former Governor Peter Obi. If they run, looking more like independent candidates, they will fail spectacularly.
If opposition is serious and determined to do whatever it takes, it must first unite and decide to play the ethnic and religious cards too. Opposition must pick a formidable Northern Muslim candidate with a very popular Southern Christian running mate against Tinubu’s likely Muslim/Muslim ticket,” he added.
