Atiku Likens Arsenal’s Victory Over Real Madrid to Coalition’s Likely Success in 2027

•Group counsels ex-vp on coalition, calls for united stance on approach to 2027 polls

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the semifinal victory of English club Arsenal over Spanish side Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League (UCL).

The Gunners were through to the semifinals of the UCL after beating trophy holders Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in their quarterfinal match to advance to the semifinals last night.

Reacting, Atiku, a supporter of Arsenal, emphasised the importance of unity as the way forward, saying victory was a lesson in consolidating strength.

In a post on X, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 wrote: “Arsenal just taught us a lesson in consolidating our strengths in a coalition vehicle. Victory is assured when we stand united.”

The remark followed trouble in the camp of the opposition with governors elected on the platform of the PDP distancing themselves from any coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku had last month announced the formation of a coalition of opposition parties aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

He was flanked at the press conference by Dr Yunusa Tanko, representative of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who recently left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Following a recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna by Atiku and members of the coalition, expectations were high that the PDP governors’ meeting in Ibadan would clarify the party’s position on the alliance.

However, arising from the meeting held between Sunday and Monday in Ibadan, Oyo State, which was attended by the party’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and other party leaders, the governors distanced themselves from any coalition or merger talks.

Meanwhile, a group, the PDP One Hundred Percent support has called on Atiku to adopt a united approach in his quest for a coalition to oust the All Progressives Congress, APC .

The group said it was better to call all organs of the party along in the coalition train, as an individual approach wouldnot garner the needed steam, stating that individualism would not make the needed efforts.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the group,

Dennis Shima, said a united front like what Governor Seyi Makinde did in 2019, when he rallied all opposition groups within the PDP in Oyo State yielded the maximum benefit in defeating the APC in the 2019 governorship election in the state.

‘’Sequel to the resolutions of PDP Governors’ Forum in Ibadan, Oyo State of Southwestern Nigeria, many public opinion within and outside PDP emerged.  However, the call for adoption of 2019 Oyo State model of  coalition in collaboration with PDP Southwest leadership rings bell.”