Nigeria’s political fault lines are widening as several prominent figures who once served under former President Muhammadu Buhari now emerge as vocal opponents of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, signalling a major realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Once united under the All Progressives Congress (APC), these former insiders are now regrouping around emerging opposition coalitions, raising questions about ideological loyalty, personal ambition, and the durability of Nigeria’s ruling party coalition.
Key Buhari-Era Figures in the Anti-Tinubu Camp
Nasir El-Rufai
Former Governor of Kaduna State (2015–2023), El-Rufai has positioned himself at the forefront of an African Democratic Congress (ADC)-anchored opposition coalition. Long regarded as one of Buhari’s closest political allies, his defection underscores growing discontent among former APC powerbrokers who believe Tinubu’s presidency has sidelined them.
Rotimi Amaechi
Minister of Transportation under Buhari (2015–2022), Amaechi joined El-Rufai’s coalition following his loss at the APC’s 2022 presidential primary. Political observers point to a mix of personal ambition and dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s leadership style as drivers of his realignment.
Abubakar Malami
Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (2015–2023), Malami has gravitated toward the anti-Tinubu bloc after his unsuccessful bid for the Kebbi State governorship and ongoing tensions within the APC. He is also under investigation by agencies operating under the Tinubu administration for alleged financial misconduct—an issue his supporters describe as politically motivated.
Rauf Aregbesola
Minister of Interior (2019–2023) and now National Secretary of the ADC opposition coalition, Aregbesola brings organisational depth and strategic experience to the emerging alliance. His participation is widely linked to unresolved political grievances dating back to his tenure as Osun State governor and later internal party disputes.
Babachir David Lawal
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (2015–2017), Lawal has remained an outspoken critic of Tinubu, particularly over the APC’s Muslim–Muslim presidential ticket in 2022. He continues to play a mobilising role within the coalition.
Lauretta Onochie
Former Senior Special Assistant to Buhari on New Media and current Chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Onochie initially supported Tinubu but has since publicly reversed course. She has described the administration as “sick” and openly predicted that Tinubu will not secure re-election in 2027.
Legal Troubles and Political Undercurrents
Several Buhari-era officials are currently facing investigations or prosecutions, further complicating relations with the Tinubu administration and reinforcing narratives of estrangement:
Godwin Emefiele, former Central Bank Governor, is facing corruption charges linked to the 2023 naira redesign policy.
Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour, is reportedly under investigation over alleged financial irregularities.
Saleh Mamman, former Minister of Power, is implicated in EFCC probes involving alleged money laundering exceeding ₦22 billion.
While not all are formally aligned with the opposition coalition, their legal challenges and public postures have strengthened perceptions of a widening rift between Buhari-era elites and the current presidency.
The Road to 2027
Reports suggest that many disaffected APC figures—particularly those aligned with the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)—are gravitating toward coalitions spearheaded by El-Rufai and supported by established opposition leaders such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
Tinubu’s media and communications team has dismissed the defections as driven by “personal ambition,” insisting the coalition lacks ideological coherence and will eventually unravel.
Yet, as Nigeria inches toward 2027, the public fallout between former allies and the sitting administration highlights the fragility of political alliances and the high stakes of internal party power struggles. The evolving contest is fast reshaping Nigeria’s political chessboard—and the next moves may prove decisive.
© Adebamiwa Olugbenga Michael is a Lagos-based political economy analyst and publisher of The Insight Lens Project
