Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside key political figures, has unveiled a new opposition coalition aimed at defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
The announcement was made on Thursday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, where Atiku, flanked by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Labour Party spokesperson Yunusa Tanko, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha, addressed journalists. When asked if the coalition was formed to remove Tinubu from office, Atiku responded, “Yes.”
The opposition leaders strongly condemned Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which resulted in the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly. Atiku described the move as unconstitutional and an abuse of presidential power, urging Nigerians to reject it.
“We have come together to address the dangerous and unconstitutional actions taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on March 18, 2025—the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the illegal suspension of the democratically elected governor, deputy governor, and state House of Assembly,” Atiku said.
He argued that Tinubu’s actions violate Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which permits a state of emergency only in extreme situations threatening national security or public safety. The constitution, he emphasized, does not grant the president the power to remove elected officials or dismantle democratic institutions.
“Even if this emergency declaration were valid, it would still require a two-thirds majority approval from the National Assembly, which has not been obtained,” Atiku added.
The coalition accused the federal government of exploiting the Rivers crisis as a pretext for political control. “Rather than allowing the law to take its course, the federal government has engineered a crisis to justify this premeditated and unconstitutional action,” Atiku said.
The opposition bloc urged the National Assembly to reject Tinubu’s declaration and called on the judiciary to overturn it to prevent a dangerous precedent. Atiku also pointed out that past administrations had declared emergency rule in conflict zones without removing elected governors, calling Tinubu’s decision “a new low for our country.”
Among those present at the press conference were Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi (represented by Yunusa Tanko), former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh.
Notably absent were former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, though they reportedly sent their apologies.
With this development, the newly formed coalition has signaled the beginning of what could become a major political movement ahead of the 2027 elections, as opposition leaders work to consolidate forces against Tinubu’s administration.
