Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, has dismissed the proposed coalition of opposition political parties planning to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections. He described the effort as fruitless and unworthy of serious attention.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Fayose, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated that the movement lacks credible support.
“Their coalition is a dead horse ab initio. Tell me one positive person, well respected Nigerians that has given his voice in support of this coalition,” Fayose asserted.
Prominent political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), are reportedly leading the coalition.
However, Fayose questioned its viability, claiming PDP governors are not aligned with Atiku and are more concerned about preserving their own political relevance.
“If anybody is fighting out of issues with his party, he can resolve that with his party. The (PDP) governors’ actions and statement in Ibadan is to tell Atiku that we are not with you, we are going nowhere, we have our own identity,” he said.
He continued, “So, that coalition is just in the imagination of people trying to bring it to fruition. So, let me say to you, it’s a waste of time.”
According to Fayose, many PDP governors would rather align with President Tinubu for their political survival than back Atiku.
He further criticized the state of the PDP, saying that internal issues must be addressed before the party can mount a serious challenge to the APC.
“Something is fundamentally wrong with the PDP that needs to be fixed,” he warned.
Fayose also reiterated his opposition to Atiku’s potential 2027 presidential bid, maintaining his earlier stance.
“I publicly worked against Atiku, and I am saying for the second time, if Atiku comes again, I will work against him. It is time to learn our lesson,” he declared.
He attributed the internal conflict in the PDP to the abandonment of the party’s zoning arrangement, which traditionally balances power between North and South.
“After eight years of a Northerner, it is the turn of a Southerner. which could involve someone from the East, South West or South South,” Fayose explained.
“Those who gave or zoned power back to the North caused all these problems,” he said, stressing the importance of an informal understanding on power rotation.
“You don’t have to like a Nyesom Wike or a Peter Obi, but there should be an unwritten, respected gentleman’s understanding of powershift,” he concluded.
