2027: Akhaine Urges Opposition to Settle Leadership Disputes

A political scientist, Prof. Sylvester Akhaine, has urged opposition politicians to set aside personal ambitions and resolve their leadership disputes if they hope to mount a credible challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Akhaine, of the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU), said the opposition needs unity more than a mere alliance to defeat the APC, noting that unresolved questions around leadership, the presidential ticket and power-sharing remain major obstacles to a successful opposition coalition.

He said previous attempts by opposition forces to unite had collapsed because politicians could not agree on who would lead or work out the finer details of any alliance. According to him, Nigerian politicians—particularly those of the Fourth Republic—are largely driven by a desire to occupy political power rather than a clear mission to transform society.

"The only mission is to occupy political power without even knowing what to do with the power," he said, adding that this mindset has pushed politicians to prioritise personal interests over building enduring parties and structures.

He argued that the opposition cannot defeat the ruling party unless those who see themselves as capable of leading the country are willing to set aside their ambitions for the greater good. "Unless the leadership issue is resolved, unless people who think that they are messianic are able to swallow their own ambition for the greater good of society, the opposition can't triumph against the ruling party," he said.

Akhaine noted, however, that an opposition alliance could still succeed if the parties were willing to rally behind a single presidential candidate, citing the 2015 election as an example of how political alliances have previously reshaped the balance of power in Nigeria.

He said opposition parties should also look beyond the presidency and aim to win enough seats to control the National Assembly. "What is wrong if the opposition controls the Parliament, the National Assembly?" he asked, adding that a strong opposition presence in the legislature could serve as an effective check on the executive's policies.

The don further advised opposition politicians to develop a clear programme capable of addressing the problems confronting Nigerians, rather than focusing solely on winning political office. He said the major challenge facing the opposition was how to move from talk of unity to a workable arrangement capable of producing a credible and acceptable candidate.

Akhaine said Nigerians want change, but opposition politicians must first prove they can overcome their differences and present a united front, urging the parties to focus on issues affecting ordinary people and win voters over with clear plans for transforming the country.