2027 Battle Heats Up As Obasanjo’s Alleged Preference Sparks New Controversy

Fresh political controversy has emerged over former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s role ahead of the 2027 general election, following conflicting claims about which presidential hopeful he is backing.

While the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum (YRLF) has accused the former Nigerian leader of quietly working to secure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, Obasanjo’s former Political Adviser, Dr. Akin Osuntokun, insists the ex-president is actively supporting an opposition alliance involving Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The disagreement comes as opposition parties intensify efforts to build a united coalition capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, through its president, Akin Malaolu, alleged that Obasanjo’s recent political actions were designed to weaken opposition forces rather than strengthen them.

The group pointed to the former president’s recent letter to ex-Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba, in which Obasanjo accused his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, of supporting an alleged impeachment plot against him during his administration.

According to Obasanjo, Atiku worked with the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, in an attempt to remove him from office while he was president.

However, the YRLF argued that the letter extended beyond a personal dispute between the two former leaders, claiming it was intended to undermine opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 polls.

Malaolu further criticised Obasanjo for mentioning the late Na’Abba, arguing that the former Speaker was no longer alive to defend himself against the allegations.

The forum also claimed that Obasanjo’s public support for Peter Obi and Kwankwaso was merely a political strategy aimed at disguising what it described as his real preference for President Tinubu’s second-term bid.

According to the group, consultations involving several prominent political figures preceded the formation of the opposition coalition, during which Obasanjo reportedly advocated for Obi to emerge as its presidential candidate before facilitating discussions that eventually produced the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance.

The organisation also alleged—without presenting evidence—that the former president was working with a member of Tinubu’s family to establish political structures that could ultimately benefit the president’s re-election campaign.

Osuntokun Rejects Allegations

Responding to the accusations during an interview on ARISE Television, Dr. Akin Osuntokun dismissed the claims as unfounded.

He maintained that Obasanjo remains one of the principal architects of the emerging Obi-Kwankwaso alliance and described suggestions that the former president was secretly supporting Tinubu as illogical.

“If anyone says Obasanjo is backing any presidential ticket, it is the Peter Obi-Kwankwaso ticket,” Osuntokun said. “He has been one of the major forces behind bringing both politicians together.”

He argued that it would be contradictory to suggest that Obasanjo was simultaneously working behind the scenes for Tinubu.

“The evidence is already in the public domain. Obasanjo played a key role in bringing Obi and Kwankwaso together. To now claim he is secretly campaigning for Tinubu simply doesn’t add up,” he said.

Osuntokun further revealed that discussions about a possible partnership between Obi and Kwankwaso had begun years earlier, adding that both politicians share a close relationship with the former president.

According to him, the proposed alliance has the potential to become a formidable force in the 2027 presidential election.

The renewed debate follows Obasanjo’s latest public disagreement with Atiku Abubakar after the former president accused his ex-vice president of backing efforts to impeach him while they were both in office.

Atiku, through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, rejected the allegation, insisting that his opposition to Obasanjo’s failed third-term agenda remains one of the defining moments in Nigeria’s democratic history.