Former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Salihu Lukman has described the outcome of the Osun State governorship election as a possible template for opposition parties seeking to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Lukman, a prominent figure in the opposition camp, said the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke demonstrated what could happen when political parties and candidates put aside individual ambitions and work toward a common objective.
According to him, the major challenge facing Nigeria’s opposition is not a lack of public support but fragmentation among political parties and their leaders.
“The significance of what has happened in Osun goes far beyond the re-election of one governor. Osun has provided a template for 2027,” the G-100 group led by Lukman said.
The group pointed to the decision by some opposition politicians in Osun to step aside and support Adeleke as an example of political compromise. It argued that similar cooperation would be required nationally if opposition parties hope to defeat the ruling APC.
“Nigeria is bigger than any candidate, any ambition and any political party,” the group added, urging opposition leaders to place the broader national interest above personal political ambitions.
The comments are significant as political parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures exploring ways to build a united platform against Tinubu and the APC.
Lukman has previously warned that continued divisions among opposition leaders could strengthen the ruling party. He has particularly highlighted the difficulty of persuading major opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, to work together despite their separate presidential ambitions.
In Osun, Adeleke, who contested under the Accord Party, defeated APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji to secure another term as governor. The result has since generated considerable political debate about the strength of incumbency and the potential impact of opposition cooperation.
However, the Osun outcome alone cannot determine the result of a nationwide presidential election. The 2027 contest will involve voters across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with candidates, alliances, regional dynamics, turnout and campaign strategies likely to play major roles.
As preparations intensify, Lukman’s message places opposition unity and political compromise at the centre of the debate over whether the APC can be successfully challenged in 2027.
