A Yoruba socio-political group, the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, has alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is working to weaken Nigeria's opposition ahead of the 2027 general election to support President Bola Tinubu's second-term ambition. The accusation follows a letter Obasanjo wrote to former Ogun State Governor Chief Segun Osoba, in which he claimed that Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, had mobilised the late Ghali Umar Na'Abba to initiate impeachment proceedings against him during his presidency. The group's President, Akin Malaolu, said Obasanjo's decision to involve Na'Abba—who cannot respond due to his death—was a deliberate tactic to avoid rebuttal.
The forum described Obasanjo's criticism of Atiku as a broader attack on opposition unity, not a personal dispute. It alleged that Obasanjo's earlier support for Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was a smokescreen to conceal his alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress. According to the group, Obasanjo had pushed for Obi to lead the opposition coalition and reportedly warned South-West leaders he would withdraw support if Obi accepted a vice-presidential role under the ADC. After Obi did not emerge as the coalition's candidate, the group claims Obasanjo encouraged defections to the National Democratic Congress, using Kwankwaso as leverage. It also alleges Obasanjo is collaborating with a member of Tinubu's family to advance the re-election project, though it did not name the individual or provide evidence.
Obasanjo is accused of leveraging his influence to fracture opposition unity while denying opponents the chance to defend themselves. If true, this shifts focus from ideology to backroom manoeuvres in shaping Nigeria's 2027 political landscape. The claim that he privately threatened to withdraw support from Obi if he took a vice-presidential role suggests calculated interference in coalition dynamics.
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