By Our Political Correspondent
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Nigeria’s opposition landscape gathered momentum on Wednesday as Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar advanced their presidential ambitions through separate party screening processes while outlining plans to address insecurity and economic hardship.
Obi was officially cleared by the Nigeria Democratic Congress to contest its presidential primaries after undergoing a screening exercise in Abuja conducted by a committee chaired by former Ebonyi State governor, Sam Egwu. Announcing the decision, Egwu said Obi had fulfilled all constitutional and statutory requirements and provided “satisfactory answers to all questions put to him by members of the committee.”
Reacting afterward, Obi revealed that the screening lasted more than two and a half hours, during which his certificates, NYSC credentials and age declarations were reviewed. “During the process, I also addressed questions regarding my vision for a new Nigeria and the type of leadership our nation urgently needs right now,” he said, while commending the committee for what he described as a transparent and credible exercise.
In a move likely to fuel fresh coalition speculations within the opposition camp, Obi, reportedly, later met behind closed doors in Abuja with former Kano State governor and fellow NDC leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, shortly after his clearance by the party’s screening committee. The meeting comes amid growing consultations and strategic realignments ahead of the presidential primaries.
Meanwhile, Atiku appeared before the presidential screening panel of the African Democratic Congress, where he used the session to unveil what aides described as practical solutions to Nigeria’s worsening economic and security crises. In a statement issued by his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president warned that persistent insecurity, unemployment and policy uncertainty had continued to weaken investor confidence and expose Nigerians to kidnappings and violent attacks.
Atiku said his economic agenda would focus on job creation, private sector expansion, fiscal discipline and attracting sustainable investments, while his security strategy would prioritise intelligence-driven operations, stronger inter-agency coordination and decentralised security structures. “At this defining moment in our national life, Nigeria does not need experiments. It needs tested leadership and courage to make necessary national decisions,” he stated.
The parallel developments underscore the growing intensity of opposition realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with both Obi and Atiku positioning themselves around themes of economic recovery, security reform and leadership credibility as parties move closer to their presidential primaries.
With Reports from the Vanguard