Lukman Warns Atiku, Obi Against Personal Ambitions Ahead of 2027 Election

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has warned opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, that allowing personal ambitions to overshadow collective interest could hand President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC an easy victory in the 2027 general election.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Lukman expressed frustration over what he described as the opposition's inability to unite despite widespread public dissatisfaction with the current administration. He argued that the continued fragmentation of opposition parties has strengthened the APC's position and reduced the chances of mounting a credible challenge in the next presidential election.

According to Lukman, the opposition risks repeating the mistakes of the 2023 elections if key political figures insist on pursuing individual presidential ambitions rather than negotiating a common front. He stressed that Nigeria's challenges should take precedence over personal political aspirations, urging opposition leaders to return to the negotiating table and agree on a strategy capable of presenting a formidable alternative to the ruling party.

Lukman disclosed that his frustration with the current state of opposition politics recently led him to suspend his membership of the ADC to enable broader consultations across political divides. He said partisan interests alone would not resolve Nigeria's problems and called for sincere engagement among political actors committed to national development.

He also warned that persistent divisions within the opposition could deepen voter apathy ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that many Nigerians have become disillusioned with the political class. Lukman maintained that unless opposition leaders set aside their differences and build a united platform, the APC could secure another victory with little resistance.