2027 Election: Atiku Aide Predicts Tinubu Loss If Atiku, Jonathan Contests

A political prediction from the camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stirred the waters of Nigerian politics, suggesting a clear path to defeat for President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 general elections. The analysis hinges on the premise of two former presidents Atiku Abubakar and Goodluck Jonathan—running on separate major opposition platforms.

Dependable NG reports that Demola Olarewaju, the Senior Political Assistant to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, made the disclosure while featuring on the Mic On podcast. Olarewaju posited that a multi-polar opposition featuring both seasoned political figures would effectively dismantle the national support base of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Olarewaju’s strategic breakdown, President Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) would suffer a critical loss of its national foundation if former President Goodluck Jonathan were to contest the presidency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while his principal, Atiku Abubakar, or another strong candidate, runs under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He stated that the electorate’s support for Goodluck Jonathan would be secured if the former president successfully navigated and won a competitive primaries process. “If Goodluck Jonathan can come into the primaries and contest in a competitive primaries and he wins, we all will support him,” Olarewaju was quoted as saying.

When pressed on the direct implication of such a scenario Jonathan running for the PDP and Atiku for the ADC—on the incumbent President, Olarewaju’s response was unambiguous: “APC loses. The APC will have no base in the (2027 election) if Jonathan runs on the PDP and Atiku or someone else runs in the ADC.”

Furthermore, Olarewaju was particularly scathing in his assessment of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party Atiku Abubakar himself recently resigned from. He insisted that the PDP has effectively been neutered as a force in national politics.

“The PDP no longer the force it once was and no longer has the drive, the PDP today has become a mere vehicle to satisfy ethnic desires,” he asserted, adding that while the party may remain a factor in select states, it has “lost national relevance” and is “no longer fit for purpose as far as National politics is concern.” This analysis highlights the political advisor’s belief that a new coalition, like the one being formed around the ADC, is essential to pose a credible national challenge to the APC in the 2027 race. The strategy appears to be one of dividing the opposition to conquer the ruling party, by leveraging the appeal of two respected former leaders across different political vehicles.