Constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, has said that the rising cost of living and widespread public discontent under President Bola Tinubu’s administration could fuel a formidable opposition movement capable of unseating him in the 2027 general election.

Speaking in response to reports of an emerging political alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Ozekhome argued that if properly coordinated, Nigeria’s fractured opposition could defeat Tinubu, whose grip on state institutions remains a major hurdle.

“With the misery and disenchantment on the ground, a powerful force can ease him (Tinubu) out of power,” he said. “But the forces are massive, with Tinubu controlling virtually every apparatus of state power.”

He urged opposition blocs to consolidate, likening Nigeria’s political system to that of the United States where power typically alternates between two dominant parties. “We should have such a template where there is no dominant power bloc,” Ozekhome added.

Sharing Ozekhome’s view, another lawyer and rights activist, Abdul Mahmud, described Tinubu’s economic policies as neo-imperialist and harmful to the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

“Nigerians have suffered enough under Tinubu and will continue to suffer as he proceeds with his neo-imperialist economic policies,” Mahmud told The PUNCH. “Nigerians are tired of Tinubu and anybody/anyone but Tinubu will do in 2027.”

However, some stakeholders have cautioned against overly optimistic projections, especially regarding the proposed Atiku-Obi alliance.

The National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said the arrangement — in which Atiku is reportedly offering Obi the vice presidential slot in a one-term presidency — requires closer scrutiny.

He said the alliance could be “a pragmatic approach to coalition-building within Nigeria’s complex political landscape, aiming to unify diverse voter bases and enhance electoral viability.”

“By aligning with Obi, who has garnered significant support particularly among the youth and progressive factions, Atiku may seek to rejuvenate his own political capital while positioning himself as a unifier in a fragmented political arena,” Yerima said.

He, however, warned that the proposal may stir intra-party tensions and invite questions about motive and sincerity.

 “Is it a genuine attempt at fostering collaboration, or a calculated manoeuvre to consolidate power?” he asked.

Yerima maintained that it will ultimately be up to Nigerians to decide what political configuration best serves the country’s interest come 2027.

“Voters will make a meaning out of every permutation and decide what is good for them and the future of the country,” he noted.