The National Chairman of the South-West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA), Senator Dayo Adeyeye, has declared that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, ADC and National Democratic Congress, NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi cannot form a united opposition front capable of defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027.
Adeyeye said the personal ambitions of the two opposition figures would make it difficult for them to reach an agreement, dismissing suggestions that a combined Atiku-Obi political force could pose a serious threat to Tinubu.
Speaking with Newsmen Beyond the Headlines programme on Monday, Adeyeye said both politicians were determined to become president and would be unwilling to sacrifice their ambitions for one another.
His comments came amid renewed efforts by opposition politicians to forge a broad coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Adeyeye also dismissed Peter Obi’s recent appearance at the official commissioning of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential campaign office in Abuja, where Obi described Makinde as qualified to become president and called on opposition leaders to set aside their differences and work together.
According to Adeyeye, Obi’s appearance was more likely a political gesture than the beginning of a serious alliance.
“Peter Obi is desperate to be president. Seyi Makinde is on a wild goose chase. I don’t think any of them can come together to work out anything,” Adeyeye said.
He was equally dismissive of the possibility of an alliance involving Obi, Atiku and Makinde, insisting that the politicians would struggle to find common ground because of their competing presidential ambitions.
Adeyeye argued that even if the opposition figures managed to reach an agreement, their alliance would not significantly alter the political equation in favour of the APC.
He further played down Obi’s influence in the South-West, saying the former Anambra governor would perform below his 2023 showing in the region.
“I cannot see it,” Adeyeye said when asked whether SWAGA was worried about Obi’s growing influence in the South-West.
He predicted that Obi would not secure 25 per cent of the votes in any South-West state in 2027, although he identified Lagos as the state where the NDC candidate could potentially perform best.
On the possibility of Atiku and Obi combining their 2023 presidential votes, which together exceeded Tinubu’s tally, Adeyeye argued that the figures could not simply be transferred to a single candidate in 2027.
He maintained that neither Atiku nor Obi would be prepared to give up his presidential ambition for the other.
Adeyeye also dismissed Makinde’s national political influence, claiming that the governor’s strength was largely confined to Oyo State.
He said the APC was confident of taking Oyo in 2027, further weakening what he described as the opposition’s potential electoral base.
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The SWAGA chairman said the ruling APC also had a significant structural advantage, claiming that 32 governors were “in our corner”, alongside other political actors supporting Tinubu.
He argued that the influence of governors over party structures, government establishments and political machinery would give the APC a formidable advantage during the election.
Adeyeye’s comments come as opposition politicians intensify discussions around a possible coalition or single presidential candidate to challenge Tinubu in 2027.
