With Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election campaign season now officially underway, opposition presidential contenders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are intensifying consultations over the formation of their respective campaign councils as they prepare for a fiercely contested election.
The development comes as major political parties move to translate their presidential ambitions into nationwide campaign structures capable of mobilising voters across the country.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has reportedly stepped up consultations with political stakeholders ahead of formally constituting his campaign council. The former Vice President is expected to assemble a team capable of coordinating his nationwide campaign as the ADC seeks to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Earlier reports had identified former Sokoto State Governor and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, as a leading contender for the Director-General position of Atiku’s campaign organisation. Party sources had cited Tambuwal’s familiarity with Atiku’s political structure and his previous experience coordinating the former Vice President’s 2023 campaign.
Peter Obi’s camp is similarly working towards finalising its campaign machinery. Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The composition of the Obi-Kwankwaso campaign structure has previously generated speculation over possible disagreements among supporters. However, representatives of both camps have dismissed reports of a power struggle, insisting that discussions over the structure are part of the normal process of preparing for a presidential campaign.
The unfolding developments come at a critical moment for the opposition. Various political groups have continued to advocate the emergence of a single opposition presidential candidate capable of confronting President Bola Tinubu and the APC.
Atiku and Obi have both been central figures in those discussions, alongside other opposition actors. However, negotiations over a common candidate have proved complicated because of competing political interests, party structures and the ambitions of individual candidates.
The issue of opposition unity is likely to remain a major factor in the 2027 contest. Supporters of a single candidate argue that dividing the opposition vote could strengthen the APC’s chances of retaining power, while others maintain that each political party should retain the right to pursue its own candidate and policy platform.
Meanwhile, the APC has already moved ahead with its presidential campaign structure.
President Tinubu will chair the APC Presidential Campaign Council, with Vice President Kashim Shettima serving as vice chairman. Former Zamfara State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari has been appointed Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary.
Kwankwaso has criticised the composition of the APC campaign council, arguing that it provides Nigerians with an opportunity to assess the type of leadership being offered by the ruling party ahead of the election.
The former Kano governor has also urged Yari to reconsider his decision to lead Tinubu’s campaign, highlighting the security and economic challenges confronting many Nigerians.
Beyond the major contenders, other presidential candidates are also preparing their campaign structures. The Young Progressives Party has announced September 9 as the formal commencement date for its presidential campaign, while the Labour Party is yet to announce its campaign timetable.
The growing activity signals that the 2027 presidential contest is rapidly moving from political positioning into full-scale electoral mobilisation.
For Atiku and Obi, the immediate challenge is to build campaign teams capable of translating their individual political followings into a coordinated national movement.
They will also have to address the more difficult question of whether opposition parties can overcome their differences and agree on a broader electoral strategy.
As campaign structures take shape, issues such as insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, poverty, public accountability and the cost of governance are expected to dominate the political debate.
The coming months will therefore be crucial for the opposition as it seeks to determine whether it can present a united and credible alternative to the APC—or enter the 2027 presidential election divided among several competing platforms.
With the campaign season officially open, the battle for Nigeria’s presidency has moved another step closer to the electorate.
