As talks continue around a possible alliance between the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, under a broader coalition, Northern voters remain divided over the move, even as both leaders step up their campaigns.

Abdulkadir Ibrahim, popularly known as Abba Gwale, a political analyst in Kano, in an Exclusive interview with DAILY POST, revealed that the northern voters see the coalition as key to unseating Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 election.

Gwale explained that although Peter Obi has not officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), he is already seen as part of the coalition.

“The major actors of the coalition are mostly Northerners. Peter Obi is yet to join ADC, but as they said, he’s part of the movement and will soon dump his party and join the coalition,” he said.

According to him, people in the North believe that the coalition presents the best chance to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the next election.

“Many people are working behind the scenes, and people in the North are giving the coalition serious consideration,” Gwale added.

Northern voters likely to come out in numbers – Gwale

When asked about the likely impact of the coalition on voter turnout in the region, Gwale said Northerners are ready to support any strong alternative to the current administration.

“Northerners will come out and vote for any candidate under the coalition. They believe it’s the only way to end Tinubu’s administration. If they turn out, the current leadership will be in serious danger because of the numbers and political actors involved,” he said.

Gwale also believes the ADC has a realistic chance of making an impact in the region.

He pointed to recent defections from other parties as a sign of growing support.

“Top politicians are trooping to get ADC membership cards. Recently, former APC governorship candidate in Adamawa, Aishatu Binani, joined ADC. The weight of the people in the party will determine how far it will go in the elections,” he said.

He listed the main concerns of Northern voters ahead of the election as fuel subsidy removal, rising food prices, increase in electricity tariffs, high school fees in tertiary institutions, insecurity, and nepotism.

“These are what people in the North will keep in mind before they vote,” Gwale said.

Obi-Atiku alliance a major threat to APC – Mukhtar Adnan

Mukhtar Adnan, former Kano House of Assembly aspirant in the 2023 general elections described the possible alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as the best political move ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking with journalists Adnan said the combined strength of both men would pose a serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.

“An alliance between Obi and Atiku is going to be the best thing, looking at the weight of the two political figures. Both Atiku and Obi have secured more than 6 million votes each. When you combine that, it’s almost 13 million. President Tinubu got just 8 million votes. That alliance is a threat to the governing APC and President Tinubu’s re-election.”

Adnan explained that support for the coalition is growing in Northern Nigeria, especially among people at the grassroots level who are tired of the current economic hardship.

“When you sit down with the people at the grassroots, you will find out that they are interested in the success of the coalition. There is poverty and people are living in serious hardship. It seems the president is not serious about solving the challenges facing the country,” Adnan explained.

Adnan said he believes Atiku is the most competent among all current presidential hopefuls.

“I trust Atiku as the best and most competent among all the aspirants. He has the experience, and his track record in both public and private sectors shows that he can solve Nigeria’s problems.”

He added that Atiku’s previous campaigns have shown he has clear ideas for change.

“You know he has a blueprint. He has contested many times and has always shown Nigerians that he understands the country’s problems and has solutions.

“I will vote for Atiku, and I will prefer Obi as his deputy,” he said.

However, for people like Al-ameem Kabeer, from Katsina, he believes it will be difficult to unseat the ruling party.

“The ruling party will do everything it takes to defend their position and make sure they are not defeated,” he said.

According to him, unless the ADC can secure more governors than the APC and also bring Kwankwaso into their fold, defeating the APC would be nearly impossible.

Nazeer Dalhatu, a district head in Kano shared a similar opinion. He said the ADC cannot unseat the APC-led government.

“The ADC is filled with angry politicians, people who didn’t get positions in the APC. They are not strong enough to compete. From what we’ve seen so far, they are simply not ready.”

Abdulrasheed Omoniyi who lives in Zaria, however, expresses mixed feelings.

He believes the ADC can unseat the APC, citing past political shifts.

“It has happened before, look at when Jonathan lost to the APC. But the energy back then was different. That kind of momentum isn’t there now.”

He also added that if the ADC fields a northern candidate for president, they risk losing support, as many believe the ticket should go to the South.

“The chances are slim. But if they present the right candidate, they might be able to defeat the APC.”

Addressing the controversy, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi emphasized that the coalition is not about endorsing any single candidate but about building a collective future for the country.

“Nobody is talking about a presidential candidate at the moment. We don’t have a preferred candidate. When the time comes, we’ll follow a democratic process and allow members to decide. Our focus now is on growing the party,” he said

He revealed that most leaders now in ADC are from the North.