ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian media figure and former opposition stalwart Dele Momodu has urged opposition parties to unite and adopt what he called “ethnic and religious cards” if they hope to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement posted Wednesday on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Momodu said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had effectively consolidated power, following a wave of defections from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Among the recent defections are Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and the resignation of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, both of whom were key PDP figures. Momodu described the developments as a sign that Nigeria had “cruised, senselessly, into a one-party state.”
Despite the setbacks, Momodu expressed confidence that the opposition could still mount a credible challenge—if it forms a strategic alliance that balances regional and religious interests. He argued that Tinubu has already secured dominance in the South, and that the opposition must now focus on consolidating support in the North.
“The opposition has only one option left in order to be competitive,” he wrote. “With commonsense, this is feasible, even if difficult.”
Momodu dismissed the chances of any Southern candidate defeating Tinubu in 2027 if they run independently. He specifically named former President Goodluck Jonathan and Labour Party leader Peter Obi as unlikely to succeed without broader coalition support.
“I do not see any Southern candidate giving Tinubu any tough challenge,” he wrote. “If they run, looking more like independent candidates, they will fail spectacularly.”
He called for a coalition similar to the one that brought the APC to power in 2015, recommending a Northern Muslim presidential candidate paired with a Southern Christian running mate as the most viable ticket to counter Tinubu’s likely Muslim-Muslim pairing.
“If opposition is serious and determined to do whatever it takes, it must first unite and decide to play the ethnic and religious cards too,” Momodu stated.
Concluding his remarks, Momodu said the political contest was far from over but warned that time was running out. “It requires candidates of absolute necessity,” he added.
