As someone who follows political developments closely, I believe some honest questions deserve to be asked, not out of hatred or mockery, but out of sincere reflection on where the opposition is heading ahead of 2027.
One thing I strongly believe is that the lack of a truly united opposition continues to strengthen President Bola Ahmed Tinubu politically. What seems to be happening now looks dangerously similar to the divisions that played out in 2023.
The biggest question many supporters may not want to ask themselves is this:
If Obi and Kwankwaso could not remain within a coalition strong enough to negotiate internally and confront figures like Atiku Abubakar politically, then how exactly do they intend to confront the full machinery of a sitting government during a national election?
Politics is not always about agreement. Serious coalitions everywhere in the world survive through negotiation, compromise, patience, and internal management of interests.
Some people argue that the ADC coalition would have eventually used consensus to hand over the presidential ticket to Atiku. But even Nigeria’s Electoral Act is clear on how consensus works.
Section 84(9) of the Electoral Act 2022 states that: “A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position.”
This simply means consensus cannot legally stand where aspirants refuse to step down voluntarily. It is not something that can simply be forced on serious contenders without their agreement.
So the question remains: Were these really impossible political conditions, or were they merely difficult negotiations that required patience and strategic endurance?
Another concern is this: A movement that seeks to govern a deeply divided and complicated country like Nigeria cannot appear unable to survive internal political disagreements within its own coalition.
If leaders begin to exit every platform once internal pressure, uncertainty, or power struggles emerge, what confidence does that give ordinary Nigerians about handling the far more complex crises facing the country itself?
Politics is difficult everywhere. Coalitions are difficult everywhere. Negotiation is difficult everywhere. Elections are not won mainly on social media energy but through difficult grassroots political organization, negotiation, and coalition management.
Running away from internal political challenges while simultaneously claiming readiness to confront national challenges creates a contradiction many thoughtful Nigerians are beginning to notice.
And if truly legal uncertainties and party structure issues were among the concerns, why was there no collective patience to sit together and take a unified decision, whether to remain, negotiate, or even jointly move into another platform like the NDC together?
Because at the end of the day, every divided opposition indirectly strengthens the ruling government.
This piece is not written to attack supporters of Obi or Kwankwaso. Many sincere Nigerians genuinely invested hope in the idea of a strong and united opposition ahead of 2027.
Sadly, what many are seeing now looks less like strategic unity and more like another replay of the fragmentation that shaped the 2023 elections.
And if history repeats itself, the greatest beneficiary may once again be President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Nworisa Michael is the coordinator of Inter-tribe Community Support Forum and writes from nworisamichael1917@gmail.com
