A former Kano governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2023 elections, Salisu Tanko Yakasai, has warned that growing divisions within Nigeria’s opposition could recreate the conditions that led to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory in 2023.
Reacting to the political alignment of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso with the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Yakasai noted that the emergence of two opposition blocs—the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the NDC—could split votes and ultimately benefit the ruling party in the 2027 general elections.
In a post shared on X, Yakasai described the situation as a “blessing in disguise,” explaining that while many Nigerians had hoped for a unified opposition, a single coalition might have faced legal and political hurdles that could have prevented it from appearing on the ballot.
He added that having two opposition platforms could make it harder to sideline them, as any attempt to exclude both parties could attract backlash over Nigeria’s democratic image.
According to him, the most likely outcome is that both the ADC and NDC will participate in the election, leading to a divided opposition at the presidential level—a scenario he believes would favour Tinubu.
“In that context, the more likely scenario I foresee happening is that Tinubu allows both parties (ADC and NDC) to contest, resulting in a divided opposition heading into 2027. If that happens, we may see a repeat of the 2023 pattern at the presidential level, while the ADC and NDC make significant gains in National Assembly races, particularly across the North and East,” he stated.
Despite the division, Yakasai reaffirmed his loyalty to the ADC and called on both camps to lower tensions and remain open to future collaboration.
“Politics has a way of bringing unlikely partners back to the table,” he added, suggesting that cooperation could still emerge ahead of the 2027 elections.
