A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has made a claim that former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, is coordinating a seven-man group of opposition figures working towards challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Galadima made this statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He discussed the opposition’s strategy ahead of the election, emphasizing that opposition parties can no longer legally present a single candidate to face Tinubu.
According to Galadima, the process for presenting a single opposition candidate has already passed the required stage. Instead, he advocates for a strategy where opposition parties field their respective candidates and encourage supporters to back the candidate considered capable of defeating Tinubu shortly before the election. Galadima described this approach as facing the President with multiple candidates before rallying behind one candidate if the opposition reaches a consensus close to election day.
Galadima also revealed that he is part of the seven-member group allegedly being coordinated by Fayemi to work towards defeating Tinubu. He stated that the group is making progress but did not provide further details. When asked about the group’s objective, Galadima clearly stated that their goal is to defeat Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
However, Fayemi’s media team has rejected the allegation made by Galadima. Julius Ogunro, a media aide to the former governor, told The Cable that there is no truth in Galadima’s claim and emphasized that Fayemi remains committed to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ogunro also referenced a similar allegation made in August by Rotimi Amaechi, which Fayemi’s media office had previously denied.
Fayemi served two non-consecutive terms as Ekiti governor on the APC platform between 2010 and 2022. His media office had previously described the claim made by Amaechi as baseless and reaffirmed Fayemi’s commitment to the APC. The development has sparked mixed reactions within the political space, with many waiting to see how the situation unfolds.
Galadima also mentioned that his preferred approach is to face Tinubu with multiple candidates and then rally behind a single candidate if the opposition reaches a consensus close to election day. He described this strategy as facing Tinubu as a "hydra-headed snail." This approach has been met with interest and skepticism from various quarters.
The allegation made by Galadima has added another layer of complexity to the already intricate Nigerian political landscape. As the 2027 presidential election approaches, the strategies and alliances being formed by various political figures will likely continue to shape the country's political discourse. Key players and their roles will be closely watched in the coming months.
Key points
- Buba Galadima alleges Kayode Fayemi is coordinating a seven-man group to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
- Galadima advocates for opposition parties to field multiple candidates before rallying behind one capable of defeating Tinubu.
- Fayemi's media team has rejected the allegation, affirming his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
