Omoyele Sowore, former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, has warned that the ongoing coalition talks among opposition parties might actually help President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid instead of challenging it. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sowore criticized the current efforts, saying they lack clear vision and strong principles. He believes these coalitions are distracting Nigerians from real change and stopping a genuine movement of the oppressed from rising.

“They are making it easier for Tinubu to get re-elected. Nigerians are being fooled into thinking these groups are fighting for them, but they’re not,” Sowore said. He went on to describe the coalitions as empty and without any real purpose or ideology. “I’m not the only one who sees this — the coalition itself is isolated. They can’t even hold meetings properly or agree on a party to join. Now they want to register a new party, which just shows how disconnected they are. Any coalition without strong beliefs and integrity is bound to fail,” he added.

Sowore’s comments come amid shifting alliances ahead of Nigeria’s next presidential election. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been pushing for opposition unity, engaging in talks with Labour Party’s Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai, who recently left the APC for the Social Democratic Party. However, these talks have faced resistance, with the PDP Governors’ Forum distancing themselves, worried it could destabilize their party. Peter Obi has also insisted he won’t join any coalition formed just to seize power, saying any alliance must focus on solving Nigeria’s deep-rooted governance issues.

Sowore urged Nigerians to stop relying on political elites and take control of their own future. “The people need to realize that real change will only happen when they design it themselves. If you keep getting distracted by these coalition talks, you’ll end up worse off than before. That has been Nigeria’s story since civil rule began,” he said.

Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has shared his advice on how President Bola Tinubu should handle Peter Obi and the Obidient Movement. Omokri suggests that instead of engaging with their negativity, Tinubu’s government should focus on highlighting its achievements and ongoing projects to outshine the critics.

Writing on X, Omokri emphasized the visible progress happening across Nigeria, especially in Abuja and Lagos. He pointed to major infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is being built simultaneously from both ends, as well as the reconstruction of the Ile-Ife to Sokoto-Badagry Expressway and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

“There’s development happening everywhere,” Omokri said. “The government should use every platform—TV, radio, print, social media—to showcase these efforts.” He also took a swipe at Obi’s supporters, saying, “While they praise leaders like Traoré, who hasn’t even reached the level of a local council chairman in Lagos, they criticize Nigeria harshly. Just the Third Mainland Bridge alone is worth half of Burkina Faso’s GDP.”

Omokri concluded by suggesting that if Obidients have nothing positive to say about Nigeria, perhaps they should consider moving to Burkina Faso.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the 2027 elections will be a clear judgment on President Bola Tinubu’s time in office, calling it a referendum on his leadership. Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, made this known on Monday while reacting to claims from the ruling APC, which accused Atiku of trying to rebuild the opposition for selfish reasons and to access public funds.

Ibe dismissed the accusations, saying Atiku’s mission is rooted in the hopes of everyday Nigerians who want a better future. “These people clearly weren’t ready to govern. All they do is play politics,” Ibe said. “They’ve worked hard, not to move Nigeria forward, but to stall any real progress. Their actions go against everything democracy stands for.”

He also criticized the Tinubu administration’s performance, pointing to a major road project where only 30 kilometres have been completed out of a planned 700 in two years. “They threw a party to celebrate just 4% of the project. Can you imagine? The money wasted on that celebration could’ve done more for the road itself,” he said.

Ibe went on to highlight the worsening conditions in Nigeria, noting the country now ranks as the poverty capital of the world and leads Africa in child malnutrition. He defended Atiku’s record, saying the former VP’s work is inspired by the people, not personal ambition.

“Atiku built his name and businesses long before 1999. He has created jobs, invested his own money in his political journey, and never relied on state funds,” he added. He urged the APC to focus on fixing the country rather than constantly watching Atiku, adding that in 2027, it will be Tinubu against the rest of the nation.