Akin Osuntokun, former Director General of the Obi Datti Presidential Campaign Council, has explained why opposition parties may struggle to unite behind a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
In an interview, Osuntokun stated that conflicting political visions among key opposition figures remain a major obstacle to forming a united coalition capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Speaking on the movement of Peter Obi from the Labour Party to the ADC and later to the NDC, Osuntokun defended Obi’s decisions, saying they were influenced by disagreements over power rotation and zoning arrangements within opposition parties.
According to him, Obi left the ADC because the party was unwilling to zone its presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, a move he believed would favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the primaries.
Osuntokun said the opposition’s inability to unite behind one candidate could ultimately strengthen the APC’s chances in the 2027 election, especially considering the ruling party’s political influence and support structure across several states.
The former presidential campaign director also revealed internal challenges faced during the 2023 Labour Party campaign. He accused some Labour Party officials of frustrating efforts by Obi’s team and using party structures for personal financial gain.
He alleged that some officials submitted ghost names on polling agent lists and claimed that former party chairman Julius Abure and others contributed to internal sabotage within the party.
Despite the internal crisis, Osuntokun maintained that the Obint Movement remains loyal to Peter Obi and is not tied to any specific political party.
He also criticised Nigeria’s electoral and judicial systems, arguing that structural problems within the country’s political system continue to weaken democratic institutions and create pressure on agencies such as INEC and the judiciary.
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