Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, political commentator and media aide Olusola Sanni has described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the opposition’s strongest and most credible candidate to challenge the ruling government.
Sanni said the political atmosphere heading into 2027 is already different from the emotionally driven environment that shaped the 2023 general election. According to him, the protest movement and social media momentum that boosted Peter Obi and the Labour Party in 2023 have gradually faded, while voters are now becoming more concerned about governance, economic hardship, insecurity, and unemployment.
He explained that the 2023 election was heavily influenced by public anger following the #EndSARS protests, ethnic sentiments, and controversies surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress. These factors, he argued, created a protest-driven coalition that may not exist in the next election cycle.
Despite the difficult political environment of 2023, Sanni noted that Atiku still emerged as the leading opposition figure nationally after securing nearly seven million votes. He said the former vice president achieved this despite internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party, including resistance from the G5 governors and regional political tensions.
According to Sanni, Atiku’s performance reflected political resilience, nationwide structure, campaign experience, and institutional strength. He described the former vice president as the “Most Valuable Player” of the 2023 election, stressing that few politicians could remain competitive under such hostile conditions.
Sanni further argued that the 2027 election would focus less on emotions and symbolism and more on competence, coalition-building, and practical solutions to Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
He also praised Atiku’s involvement in efforts to unite opposition forces around the African Democratic Congress, saying the move demonstrates strategic thinking and strong political foresight.
According to him, the ADC has the potential to become a formidable platform for opposition unity, but such a coalition would require an experienced political figure capable of managing competing interests across different regions and political blocs.
Sanni maintained that Atiku possesses the national network, political structure, experience, and leadership qualities needed to lead such a coalition and mount a serious challenge in 2027.
Addressing criticisms about Atiku’s age and repeated presidential ambitions, he argued that leadership should be judged by competence, preparedness, endurance, and experience rather than public sentiment alone.
He added that Nigerians must decide whether the opposition simply wants symbolic participation or a realistic opportunity to unseat the incumbent government.
Sanni concluded that with the unique political conditions that shaped the 2023 election gradually disappearing, Atiku’s political experience and nationwide influence could become even more important ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
He urged opposition parties to unite behind what he described as their strongest and most viable candidate for victory in 2027.
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