OPPOSITION STAKEHOLDERS UNVEILS 2027 PLAN, ASKS ATIKU TO STEP DOWN FOR PETER OBI

A coalition of opposition stakeholders, civil society groups, and political movements has unveiled AGOBI ’27—short for Atiku Givus Obi 2027—calling on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside and back Labour Party’s Peter Obi as a united presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.

The Save Democracy Mega Alliance (SDMA), African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition partners, and allied civil societies warned that separate bids by Atiku and Obi would hand President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) an easy victory.
“This is the hugest question anyone will ever ask Atiku Abubakar in his lifetime: Will you be remembered as the man who sacrificed his ambition to liberate Nigeria, or who sacrificed Nigeria for his ambition?” the communiqué declared.

The coalition alleged that the APC has already laid “practically insurmountable obstacles” to tilt the polls, citing INEC’s plan to replace PVCs with computer-generated slips, which they claim could enable digital vote manipulation; heavily armed security lockdowns on election day to stifle opposition monitoring and movement; and judiciary influence through patronage, referencing reports of housing projects for key judges ahead of 2027.

The groups said their research showed that 90% of voters across Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt would rather back Tinubu for a second term than risk another Northern Hausa-Fulani presidency—making an Atiku candidacy a liability for opposition unity.

The AGOBI steering committee, drawn from six geopolitical zones, includes Labour Party’s interim National Publicity Secretary Prince Tony Akeni, CUPP National Secretary High Chief Peter Ameh, and other civic leaders.

A prominent northern elder, speaking anonymously, described AGOBI as “the most historic nationalist movement since the independence rallies of the 1950s.”

The four-day Abuja parley that birthed the campaign featured representatives from political parties, professional associations, youth groups, and traditional rulers (joining via Skype). Organisers say AGOBI ’27 will roll out nationwide mobilisations in the coming months to pressure opposition leaders into a single ticket.
“A hundred Tinubus cannot win if Atiku backs Obi,” the statement read. “But if they run separately, Tinubu’s victory is guaranteed.”

The coalition framed the campaign as a patriotic rescue mission: “Time will tell and retell the AGOBI story,” they said, invoking Qur’anic verses urging justice and selflessness