Former militant leader Asari Dokubo has announced his intention to form a political alliance with Northern leaders ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, accusing President Bola Tinubu of betraying him despite his support during the 2023 election campaign.
In a video shared online, Asari expressed disappointment, alleging that he spent significant personal funds to rally support for Tinubu’s victory, only to feel sidelined afterward.
He reminded viewers that he had urged Nigerians to hold him accountable if Tinubu’s presidency fell short of expectations.
“I apologize to our elders because they were right to form alliances with the North. As young men, we will follow that path now,” he declared.
“Starting today, I’ll work with the North. President Tinubu betrayed me after I emptied my bank account to campaign for him. This Tinubu isn’t the one I knew before.”
Asari went on to criticize the Yoruba political faction, calling them “a betrayal” to his people, and emphasized that only Northern allies could genuinely collaborate with the Ijaw community.
This comes amid recent reports of a political coalition forming among opposition parties. Earlier this year, political analyst Pat Utomi announced discussions with opposition leaders, including PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and NNPP’s Rabiu Kwankwaso, exploring the creation of a unified political front to challenge Tinubu in 2027.