A former House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency in Osun State, Gideon Aloba, has called for a strategic alliance and genuine power-sharing arrangement between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Anambra State governor, Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement shared with Sunday PUNCH, Aloba said only a united front between the opposition leaders could unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“To defeat Tinubu in 2027, there must be a handshake between Atiku and Obi. One of them must be ready to shelve personal ambition and offer strategic support,” he said.

Aloba called for a coalition modelled after the 2010 UK Conservative–Liberal Democrat government, where clear roles and responsibilities were outlined in a formal agreement.

He warned that without a binding framework, any merger could collapse under political pressure. 

The LP chieftain said, “To effectively manage the merger and protect the interests of both parties, a bipartisan coalition agreement must be signed. This document should clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and oversight mechanisms for each side.

“The coalition should not be a mere president-and-spare-tyre arrangement. It must reflect true power-sharing where, for instance, one leader manages the economy and the other handles security and anti-corruption.

“The merger is not only inevitable; it is necessary. Though such alliances are always delicate, especially in Nigeria’s political space, a well-negotiated, clearly documented, and mutually respected agreement remains the best possible safeguard for the success of both parties, and more importantly, for the future of Nigeria.”

He stressed that managing ticket dynamics would be crucial in maintaining the support base of both parties, urging a display of political maturity and national interest above personal ambition.