Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has thrown cold water on recent opposition efforts to build a coalition aimed at toppling President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
During an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, Fayose described the proposed alliance, spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as “a dead horse from the start.”
Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential flagbearer in the 2023 polls, has been actively pursuing discussions across party lines to create a united opposition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, momentum appears to be lacking, particularly within Atiku’s own party.
Recently, PDP governors convened in Ibadan and publicly dismissed any possibility of merging with other parties—sending a clear message that Atiku’s coalition push lacks internal support.
Fayose echoed this sentiment, questioning the credibility and traction of the initiative.
“No credible Nigerian has endorsed that alliance,” he said. “The statement by PDP governors is their way of telling Atiku they don’t back him. The whole idea is a fantasy that won’t become reality.”
Fayose also claimed that some PDP governors feel more aligned with Tinubu than they ever did with Atiku, citing internal party disagreements over zoning as a key reason.
He reaffirmed his opposition to Atiku’s candidacy, saying, “I opposed him before, and I’ll do it again.
“After eight years of northern leadership, the presidency should return to the South.”
He further blamed the PDP’s ongoing turmoil on the abandonment of its informal power-rotation principle, insisting that ignoring zoning arrangements has left the party fractured and politically weak.
