By John Umeh
The 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (popularly known as GRV), has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government would not withstand a united political front between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in a recent media interview, GRV stressed that a strategic merger between the two influential opposition leaders could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic trajectory. He argued that with the growing discontent among Nigerians over the current administration’s economic and social policies, a coalition of the two major opposition figures would present a formidable challenge capable of ending Tinubu’s hold on power.
“President Tinubu’s government is already facing serious trust and legitimacy issues among the masses,” GRV said. “If Atiku and Obi set aside their political differences and come together with a unified vision in 2027, this administration won’t survive it. The Nigerian people are ready for a true alternative.”
GRV, a vocal critic of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), further emphasized that such a coalition would not only bring electoral strength but also merge two significant political followings: Atiku’s influence in the North and Obi’s rapidly growing popularity among the youth and urban electorate, particularly in the South-East and South-South.
The possibility of an Atiku-Obi alliance has been a topic of speculation since the 2023 general elections, where both men ran against Tinubu under separate party platforms — Atiku for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi for the Labour Party (LP). Despite their losses, both candidates garnered substantial votes and maintained visible support bases across the country.
Political analysts say that if opposition parties want to reclaim power in 2027, cooperation rather than fragmentation will be key. GRV echoed this sentiment, warning that failure to unite would only embolden the APC and prolong what he described as “a government disconnected from the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.”
While neither Atiku nor Obi has officially declared their intentions for the 2027 elections, recent political movements suggest that talks of alliances and coalition-building may be underway behind closed doors.
As 2027 draws closer, all eyes will be on Nigeria’s opposition leaders and whether they can put ambition aside to forge a united front strong enough to upend the ruling party.
