By Adesakin Adefemi
Veteran journalist and African Democratic Congress chieftain Dele Momodu has claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s political pressure is the driving force behind the recent alignment of opposition leaders Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, Momodu said the emerging unity is more reactive than strategic, forged in response to the ruling party’s dominance rather than a long-term coalition plan.
Momodu’s remarks come in the wake of Obi and Kwankwaso’s decision to dump the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress over the weekend.
The 2023 presidential candidates of the Labour Party and the New Nigeria People’s Party cited unresolved legal disputes within the ADC and what they described as a toxic political climate as reasons for their exit. The move has fueled speculation about a possible joint presidential ticket against Tinubu in 2027.
“Tinubu forced all of them together. And that is why they all moved in one direction. Which would have been beautiful, because it would have been like a two-party race,” Momodu said during the interview. He argued that the development, while significant, does not guarantee sustained cooperation among opposition figures or reflect a shared ideological foundation.
The Ovation International publisher also cautioned against assuming that major candidates will automatically retain their 2023 voter base. He questioned whether Tinubu would hold on to the over eight million votes he secured last time, just as he doubted whether Obi and Kwankwaso could keep all their supporters. “The situation has changed,” he stressed, pointing to shifting voter dynamics since the last election.
Momodu went further to suggest that a free and fair contest could dramatically alter the political landscape. “If Tinubu allows a free and fair election, he might not even get 3 million votes,” he said, citing the poor showing of several G5 governors who failed to secure senatorial seats in Enugu, Abia, and Benue as evidence of declining loyalty.
On the ADC’s position, Momodu said the party remains focused and open to new members but will not succumb to political blackmail. “Those who want to join should join. Those who do not want to join, you cannot succumb to blackmail. That only one man can make us win,” he declared, rejecting the notion that victory depends on a single personality.
Reflecting on past alliances, the ADC chieftain recalled that the 2019 partnership between Atiku Abubakar and Obi did not yield victory, and their separate runs in 2023 also failed to dislodge the ruling party. He urged political actors to exercise patience and avoid desperation, quoting his late mother’s advice: “Stop running from whatever is chasing you, because you might run into what is chasing you.”
Momodu also wished Obi well as he tests his popularity under a new platform, stressing that no candidate should be forced out of the race based on another’s claims. His comments add to the growing debate on whether the opposition can present a united front capable of challenging the APC in 2027.
As realignments continue across party lines, analysts say the opposition’s ability to sustain momentum will depend on trust, structure, and a clear policy agenda beyond anti-Tinubu sentiment. For now, Momodu’s comments have reframed the narrative, suggesting that the current opposition bloc may be more a product of circumstance than conviction.
