Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi launch new opposition against Tinubu

By Ologeh Joseph Chibu

A new opposition movement comprising of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party, (LP) leader Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nassir El Rufai has been launched in Abuja on Thursday.

The new coalition says it aims to take over from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC).

Speaking at the event, Atiku the group came together to address the dangerous and unconstitutional actions taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on March 18, 2025-to wit, the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and the State House of Assembly.

He However said the primary motive of the coalition is to take over power from Tinubu in 2027.

With the new coalition, Irohinoodua was informed that a new party may be formed or that the coalition would infiltrate one of the existing political parties ahead of 2027.

It was unclear as at press time if the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Fayode Fayemi is part of the coalition as speculated by many observers.

The coalition appears to be exploiting the imposition of State of Emergency in Rivers State to the brim.

Atiku came second in the 2023 Presidential election while Obi came third.

It is widely believed that the two candidates hope to form a grand alliance with the prospect of coming up with a formidable opposition. The two candidates combined scored higher votes compared with Tinubu.

But this calculation may to automatically translate to the defeat of the incumbent in the coming Presidential election.

In the first place, it is not clear if Atiku and Obi are ready to give way to fresh blood or that Atiku will accept to be the Vice Presidential candidate or Obi from the South East and even if he accepts to be, would the core North accept such an arrangement?
It is also not certain if Obi would accept to be Atiku’s Vice Presidential candidate and that even if he accepts, would his followers agree with such arrangement?

What about El Rufai? His place is unclear in the emerging plot but certainly his ambition for the highest seat is not in doubt.

Atiku said on the Rivers crisis “This action is not only unlawful but also a clear subversion of democracy and imposition of autocratic federal control over a duly elected state government.

He said the coalition strongly condemned the development and called on all Nigerians of good conscience to resist what he called the brazen assault on the constitution of our country and the institutions of our democracy.

He said “Mr President’s illegal and unconstitutional proclamation was presumably driven by the protracted insidious political crisis in Rivers State, which culminated in the recent ruling of the Supreme Court.

“Naturally, we expected all parties to the dispute to follow laid-down procedures, and in good faith, to promptly implement the judgment of the highest court of the land.”

The coalition said rather than rise above the fray, the president yielded to petty favouritism and betrayed the oath that he solemnly swore to before God and man, which was to ‘do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

He argued further “If president Tinubu had conveniently disguised his true intentions in the past, his broadcast to the nation on 18th March 2025 betrayed his bias and fell far below the standard of comportment expected from his exalted office.”

On the constitutional proceduer he said “Without any doubts, the Nigerian Constitution does not empower the President to remove an elected Governor, Deputy Governor, or State Assembly under any circumstances.

He said the procedure for removing a Governor is clearly outlined in Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) through an impeachment process initiated by the State House of Assembly-not by presidential proclamation or arbitrary pronouncement.

Atiku said “Misuse of Section 305 on State of Emergency:

“Section 305 of the Constitution allows the President to declare a State of Emergency only in extreme cases where public safety, national security, or Nigeria’s sovereignty is at serious risk.

“However, it does not grant him the power to suspend elected officials or to demolish democratic structures as he has brazenly done.

He said Section 305(1) states that any proclamation of emergency is subject to the provisions of the Constitution-meaning it cannot override the tenure and removal procedures of a Governor.

“Failure to Meet Constitutional Requirements for Emergency Rule

“The conditions under Section 305(3) for declaring a state of emergency include: War or external aggression, Breakdown of public order and safety, Natural disasters or any other grave emergency threatening Nigeria’s corporate existence,”,the former President argued.

He further said none of the listed conditions exist in current circumstances in Rivers State. There is no war, no widespread violence, and no breakdown of law and order warranting emergency declaration.

“Failure to Follow Due Process: Even if an emergency declaration were valid (which it is not), it would still require a two-thirds majority approval of all members of the National Assembly-that is, at least, 72 Senators and 240 members of the House of Representatives. If this approval is not secured, the proclamation must automatically cease to have effect.

“Alternative Legal Avenues Were Ignored

“If the issue was the dysfunction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the President could have encouraged the National Assembly to intervene under Section 11 of the Constitution.”

Others at the event were Peter Obi represented by Yunusa Tanko, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, and Convenor of the Alternative, Segun Showunmi, among others.

Atiku said Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, among others sent their apologies for not being able to attend