Ijaw Leaders Join Forces with Atiku-Led Coalition as 2027 Politics Heats Up

Political maneuvering ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election has taken a significant turn, with the Coalition 2027 movement—led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai, and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal—making strategic inroads into the Niger Delta region.

Although Atiku and Tambuwal remain members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they are spearheading efforts to build a powerful cross-party coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu. El-Rufai, now aligned with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after exiting the All Progressives Congress (APC), is also playing a leading role in the movement.

The coalition, which has been quietly expanding its reach, is now engaging with influential Niger Delta stakeholders. Sources close to the movement revealed that discussions with key political figures in the region intensified over the weekend. The talks reportedly culminated after the controversial declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which resulted in the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, an Ijaw man, and his deputy—an action widely condemned by Niger Delta leaders as unconstitutional.

Riding the wave of discontent, Atiku is said to have reached out to two former heads of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), who subsequently began mobilizing support among political leaders across the Ijaw ethnic group. These individuals have now been formally integrated into the coalition’s contact and mobilisation committee. Additionally, three ex-militant leaders—key players in the disarmament of 2009 under President Umaru Musa Yar’adua—have been tasked with rallying support in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Edo/Ondo states. However, internal tensions persist, as these figures reportedly clash with ex-MEND leader Government Ekpomupolo, known as Tompolo, over the lucrative pipeline surveillance contracts.

A source involved in the discussions emphasized the growing political awakening among the Ijaw people, warning that their voting strength—estimated at over six million—cannot be ignored in 2027. He stated that the group is now fully committed to backing the coalition against Tinubu’s administration, citing the recent treatment of Governor Fubara as a turning point.

Timi Frank, a close associate of Atiku and former PDP deputy spokesperson, confirmed the coalition’s outreach to the South South. He described the movement as strong and gaining momentum, predicting a major political upset for the ruling APC. According to Frank, many southern politicians are aligning with the coalition due to growing public frustration over the current administration. He accused pro-Tinubu politicians of losing credibility among their constituents and warned that traditional vote manipulation tactics would not work in the next election due to heightened vigilance among voters.

In response, the presidency has dismissed the movement as politically opportunistic. Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communication (Office of the Vice President), said the administration remains focused on governance and economic recovery. He emphasized that President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima are not preoccupied with 2027 politics but are working to deliver on the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Nkwocha pointed to recent economic improvements, including a reported $6.83 billion surplus by the Central Bank of Nigeria, as evidence that Tinubu’s policies are bearing fruit. He described the coalition’s efforts as a “brazen attempt” by desperate politicians to create divisions within the presidency and said such actions would not succeed in unseating the president.

As political alignments continue to shift, the battle lines for 2027 are becoming increasingly defined, with the Niger Delta emerging as a critical battleground in what promises to be a fiercely contested presidential race.