Tensions are mounting among supporters of Peter Obi and members of Nigeria’s civic-conscious electorate following speculations that the newly proposed coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) might field Atiku Abubakar as the joint presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Popular Nollywood actor and filmmaker Ugezu J. Ugezu, known for his political commentary, has firmly rejected the idea, warning that any coalition fronting Atiku—who has contested multiple times under different parties—will fail to inspire Nigerians seeking genuine change. In a blunt Instagram post, Ugezu declared:
“If the coalition is all about fronting Atiku to remove Asiwaju, then I will say let Asiwaju continue.”
He went further to label the coalition as a project aimed at “state capture” by elites who have benefitted from decades of looting, saying:
“A coalition aimed at state capture by ruthless elements who have looted and looted in the last 4 to 5 decades is not the coalition that will birth the new Nigeria. I am not in it. We yearn for a nation that works.”
SEE SCREENSHOT BELOW
Ugezu’s position mirrors the sentiments of many grassroots Obi-dients, who flooded social media with sharp criticism of any alliance that sidelines Peter Obi or recycles familiar political faces.
For these voters, the coalition’s legitimacy hinges on its willingness to break from the old guard of Nigerian politics, rather than reinforcing it.
SEE SCREENSHOTS BELOW
The backlash comes just days after Kenneth Okonkwo, Nollywood actor-turned-politician, distanced himself from the Atiku-led coalition narrative, reaffirmed that the ADC movement should prioritize Nigeria’s well-being over political power swaps.
Observers now question whether the proposed coalition can survive internal divisions, especially if Peter Obi and his base remain unaligned.
While the ADC’s attempt at political realignment may have been conceived as a strategy to defeat Tinubu, it now faces strong resistance from reformist voices demanding transparency, fresh leadership, and a true break from Nigeria’s recycled political elite.
Leave a comment