ABUJA – In a scathing assessment of the current state of Nigeria’s political opposition, the Senator representing Edo North and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has claimed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has inadvertently become the ruling party's most effective asset. Speaking during a high-profile interview on Channels Television’s flagship program, Politics Today, Oshiomhole argued that the infighting and public disagreements between major opposition figures have essentially done the APC’s campaign work for them ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The veteran politician’s comments come at a time of unprecedented fluidity within Nigeria’s political landscape. Oshiomhole’s central thesis is that as long as the primary challengers to the APC remain locked in a cycle of mutual recrimination and party-switching, the ruling party faces no credible threat from the fragmented opposition blocs.
The crux of Oshiomhole’s argument rests on the deteriorating relationship between the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi. Once running mates on a joint ticket, the two men have seen their political alliance dissolve into a series of strategic maneuvers and public criticisms. Oshiomhole asked rhetorically during the television appearance whether the APC should be worried about the ADC or the NDC when Atiku is acting as their best campaign manager by attacking Obi, and Obi is in turn attacking figures like Rotimi Amaechi.
When the opposition is busy destroying itself, the ruling party can focus on its governance and its own internal consolidation, Oshiomhole noted. His assertion that Atiku is managing the APC’s campaign stems from the former Vice President’s recent verbal salvos directed at Obi and other opposition figures. By highlighting the perceived weaknesses or inconsistencies of his former allies, Atiku is, in Oshiomhole’s view, devaluing the entire opposition brand in the eyes of the Nigerian electorate. This internal friction, according to the Senator, serves as a powerful distraction that prevents a unified front from emerging against the APC.
The backdrop to Oshiomhole’s commentary is the dizzying sequence of political defections involving Peter Obi. After leading the Obidient movement under the Labour Party in 2023, Obi’s trajectory has become a subject of intense scrutiny and, in some quarters, ridicule. In a move that surprised many observers in January 2026, Obi briefly reunited with Atiku Abubakar under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The reunion was heralded by some as the beginning of a super-coalition capable of unseating the APC. However, the alliance proved to be exceptionally short-lived. Only days ago, Obi defected once again, this time joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
This rapid migration between political parties has provided ample ammunition for APC stalwarts like Oshiomhole. The Senator suggested that such party-shopping undermines the ideological credibility of the opposition. The prevailing belief in political circles is that Obi is positioning himself to run for the presidency on the NDC platform, likely in a combined ticket with the former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, holds a massive following in the North, making a potential Obi-Kwankwaso ticket a theoretical powerhouse.
Despite the potential threat of a Kwankwaso-Obi alliance, Oshiomhole remained dismissive of the newly formed or rejuvenated parties. His remarks suggested that the APC views the ADC and the NDC as little more than temporary shelters for disgruntled politicians rather than cohesive political movements. Sources close to the Senator added that politics is about structures and consistency, noting that you cannot build a house on shifting sand. If the leaders of these movements cannot even stay in one party for a month, the argument goes, they cannot convince the Nigerian people that they can lead a nation for four years.
Oshiomhole also touched upon the broader trend of opposition figures attacking one another, noting that even within these new formations, there is little evidence of a shared vision. He pointed to the verbal exchanges between Obi and the former Minister of Transportation as further evidence of a house divided against itself. The APC’s stance, as articulated by Oshiomhole, appears to be one of strategic patience. By allowing the opposition to exhaust their resources and reputation on internal skirmishes, the ruling party aims to present itself as the only stable and predictable option for the 2027 cycle.
However, some independent analysts warn that the APC’s confidence may be premature. While the opposition is currently fragmented, the sheer volatility of Nigerian politics means that today’s enemies can become tomorrow’s allies with little warning. The emergence of the NDC, specifically if it succeeds in uniting the voting blocs of the Southeast and the core North through an Obi-Kwankwaso partnership, could still present a significant challenge if they manage to cease their public infighting.
Predictably, Oshiomhole’s remarks have not gone down well within the camps of Atiku and Obi. A spokesperson for the NDC described Oshiomhole’s comments as the desperate diversions of a party that has failed to deliver on its promises. They argued that the real campaign managers for the opposition are the rising cost of living and the economic challenges currently facing the country. Regardless of the rhetoric, the fact remains that the opposition is in a state of flux. With Peter Obi’s move to the NDC and Atiku’s continued role as a vocal critic of his former partners, the road to 2027 is paved with uncertainty. As Oshiomhole concluded his interview, he left no doubt about where he stands, stating that while the opposition fights, the ruling party continues to work.
