With Nigeria’s 2027 presidential electioneering campaign season in full swing, interesting times are ahead.The recent coming together of opposition political party representatives in Abuja for the G100 Opposition Summit has ignited conversations around the need for an organised and unified opposition front going into next year’s presidential polls. As logical as Salihu Lukman’s passionate appeal sounds, it is an admonition falling on deaf ears. The ambitions of the top two opposition candidates, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi, would hinder the possibility of such a union. Atiku Abubakar has declared this to be the final attempt to actualise his lifelong ambition of becoming President of Nigeria. Peter Obi would most likely not set aside his ambition, as his support base, “The Obidients”, has already made it clear to him and whoever cares to listen that ‘it is Peter Obi or nothing.’ By inference, this means only Obi on the ballot has their support. With this, he can’t just set aside his ambition in support of Atiku Abubakar and expect his support base to follow suit.In the same way, Atiku Abubakar wouldn’t do the same for Peter Obi, knowing this is his last chance to run for the office of the president. As such, both candidates appear to be locked in a contest of whose ambition supersedes the other.Based on data from the 2023 presidential election results, the top four contestants from that contest are now represented under three presidential tickets. This makes the upcoming presidential election closely contested.No two election cycles are the same, as the key contending issues often differ with each cycle. That notwithstanding, Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election appears to be a close replica of the previous one, only that one of the top three contenders from 2023 now enjoys the power of incumbency. Aside from that, most of the contending issues from 2023 remain the same in this present contest.Related NewsCain’s ballot: Kwara’s loyalty bazaarFubara signs N1.84tn budget, thanks Wike, lawmakersFG counters Obi, Kwankwaso over Tinubu’s re-election chancesThe call by the G100 aims to avoid going into the presidential poll with the opposition splitting votes, thereby giving the incumbent, Bola Tinubu, an edge at the polls.As a lover of suspense, I find it exciting to have three strong contenders going into the polls. Such a contest would test, fine-tune, and advance Nigeria’s political evolution. If the opposition political parties approach the polls individually, it is a no-brainer that the votes would be split between the APC, ADC, and NDC. The proportion of votes each party gets is uncertain and will be decided by the electorate. Depending on how close the contest is, the poll results may not produce a winner who meets the constitutional threshold on the first ballot. This would take the presidential elections into a run-off phase. Run-offs from presidential elections are set between the top two contenders from votes cast in the first ballot. If the incumbent makes the top two spots in an indecisive poll, the run-offs would be between the incumbent and one of the two aforementioned opposition candidates. This would leave the opposition with two options. Either they come together to try to wrest power from the incumbent a second time, or they again split, with some cutting deals with the incumbent to return him to power in the second ballot.If the opposition political parties do not come together before the 2027 elections to support a single candidate to face the incumbent, they would ultimately have to do so in a likely presidential run-off to have a shot at taking down the behemoth the APC has become.It is a privilege to witness history, as the 2027 presidential election has the potential to go down in history as one full of intrigue.Yohanna Bwala writes from Calgary, Alberta The recent coming together of opposition political party representatives in Abuja for the G100 Opposition Summit has ignited conversations around the need for an organised and unified opposition front going into next year’s presidential polls. As logical as Salihu Lukman’s passionate appeal sounds, it is an admonition falling on deaf ears. The ambitions of the top two opposition candidates, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi, would hinder the possibility of such a union. Atiku Abubakar has declared this to be the final attempt to actualise his lifelong ambition of becoming President of Nigeria. Peter Obi would most likely not set aside his ambition, as his support base, “The Obidients”, has already made it clear to him and whoever cares to listen that ‘it is Peter Obi or nothing.’ By inference, this means only Obi on the ballot has their support. With this, he can’t just set aside his ambition in support of Atiku Abubakar and expect his support base to follow suit.In the same way, Atiku Abubakar wouldn’t do the same for Peter Obi, knowing this is his last chance to run for the office of the president. As such, both candidates appear to be locked in a contest of whose ambition supersedes the other.Based on data from the 2023 presidential election results, the top four contestants from that contest are now represented under three presidential tickets. This makes the upcoming presidential election closely contested.No two election cycles are the same, as the key contending issues often differ with each cycle. That notwithstanding, Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election appears to be a close replica of the previous one, only that one of the top three contenders from 2023 now enjoys the power of incumbency. Aside from that, most of the contending issues from 2023 remain the same in this present contest.Related NewsCain’s ballot: Kwara’s loyalty bazaarFubara signs N1.84tn budget, thanks Wike, lawmakersFG counters Obi, Kwankwaso over Tinubu’s re-election chancesThe call by the G100 aims to avoid going into the presidential poll with the opposition splitting votes, thereby giving the incumbent, Bola Tinubu, an edge at the polls.As a lover of suspense, I find it exciting to have three strong contenders going into the polls. Such a contest would test, fine-tune, and advance Nigeria’s political evolution. If the opposition political parties approach the polls individually, it is a no-brainer that the votes would be split between the APC, ADC, and NDC. The proportion of votes each party gets is uncertain and will be decided by the electorate. Depending on how close the contest is, the poll results may not produce a winner who meets the constitutional threshold on the first ballot. This would take the presidential elections into a run-off phase. Run-offs from presidential elections are set between the top two contenders from votes cast in the first ballot. If the incumbent makes the top two spots in an indecisive poll, the run-offs would be between the incumbent and one of the two aforementioned opposition candidates. This would leave the opposition with two options. Either they come together to try to wrest power from the incumbent a second time, or they again split, with some cutting deals with the incumbent to return him to power in the second ballot.If the opposition political parties do not come together before the 2027 elections to support a single candidate to face the incumbent, they would ultimately have to do so in a likely presidential run-off to have a shot at taking down the behemoth the APC has become.It is a privilege to witness history, as the 2027 presidential election has the potential to go down in history as one full of intrigue.Yohanna Bwala writes from Calgary, Alberta In the same way, Atiku Abubakar wouldn’t do the same for Peter Obi, knowing this is his last chance to run for the office of the president. As such, both candidates appear to be locked in a contest of whose ambition supersedes the other.Based on data from the 2023 presidential election results, the top four contestants from that contest are now represented under three presidential tickets. This makes the upcoming presidential election closely contested.No two election cycles are the same, as the key contending issues often differ with each cycle. That notwithstanding, Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election appears to be a close replica of the previous one, only that one of the top three contenders from 2023 now enjoys the power of incumbency. Aside from that, most of the contending issues from 2023 remain the same in this present contest.Related NewsCain’s ballot: Kwara’s loyalty bazaarFubara signs N1.84tn budget, thanks Wike, lawmakersFG counters Obi, Kwankwaso over Tinubu’s re-election chancesThe call by the G100 aims to avoid going into the presidential poll with the opposition splitting votes, thereby giving the incumbent, Bola Tinubu, an edge at the polls.As a lover of suspense, I find it exciting to have three strong contenders going into the polls. Such a contest would test, fine-tune, and advance Nigeria’s political evolution. If the opposition political parties approach the polls individually, it is a no-brainer that the votes would be split between the APC, ADC, and NDC. The proportion of votes each party gets is uncertain and will be decided by the electorate. Depending on how close the contest is, the poll results may not produce a winner who meets the constitutional threshold on the first ballot. This would take the presidential elections into a run-off phase. Run-offs from presidential elections are set between the top two contenders from votes cast in the first ballot. If the incumbent makes the top two spots in an indecisive poll, the run-offs would be between the incumbent and one of the two aforementioned opposition candidates. This would leave the opposition with two options. Either they come together to try to wrest power from the incumbent a second time, or they again split, with some cutting deals with the incumbent to return him to power in the second ballot.If the opposition political parties do not come together before the 2027 elections to support a single candidate to face the incumbent, they would ultimately have to do so in a likely presidential run-off to have a shot at taking down the behemoth the APC has become.It is a privilege to witness history, as the 2027 presidential election has the potential to go down in history as one full of intrigue.Yohanna Bwala writes from Calgary, Alberta Based on data from the 2023 presidential election results, the top four contestants from that contest are now represented under three presidential tickets. This makes the upcoming presidential election closely contested.No two election cycles are the same, as the key contending issues often differ with each cycle. That notwithstanding, Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election appears to be a close replica of the previous one, only that one of the top three contenders from 2023 now enjoys the power of incumbency. Aside from that, most of the contending issues from 2023 remain the same in this present contest.Related NewsCain’s ballot: Kwara’s loyalty bazaarFubara signs N1.84tn budget, thanks Wike, lawmakersFG counters Obi, Kwankwaso over Tinubu’s re-election chancesThe call by the G100 aims to avoid going into the presidential poll with the opposition splitting votes, thereby giving the incumbent, Bola Tinubu, an edge at the polls.As a lover of suspense, I find it exciting to have three strong contenders going into the polls. Such a contest would test, fine-tune, and advance Nigeria’s political evolution. If the opposition political parties approach the polls individually, it is a no-brainer that the votes would be split between the APC, ADC, and NDC. The proportion of votes each party gets is uncertain and will be decided by the electorate. Depending on how close the contest is, the poll results may not produce a winner who meets the constitutional threshold on the first ballot. This would take the presidential elections into a run-off phase. Run-offs from presidential elections are set between the top two contenders from votes cast in the first ballot. If the incumbent makes the top two spots in an indecisive poll, the run-offs would be between the incumbent and one of the two aforementioned opposition candidates. This would leave the opposition with two options. Either they come together to try to wrest power from the incumbent a second time, or they again split, with some cutting deals with the incumbent to return him to power in the second ballot.If the opposition political parties do not come together before the 2027 elections to support a single candidate to face the incumbent, they would ultimately have to do so in a likely presidential run-off to have a shot at taking down the behemoth the APC has become.It is a privilege to witness history, as the 2027 presidential election has the potential to go down in history as one full of intrigue.Yohanna Bwala writes from Calgary, Alberta No two election cycles are the same, as the key contending issues often differ with each cycle. That notwithstanding, Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election appears to be a close replica of the previous one, only that one of the top three contenders from 2023 now enjoys the power of incumbency. Aside from that, most of the contending issues from 2023 remain the same in this present contest.Related NewsCain’s ballot: Kwara’s loyalty bazaarFubara signs N1.84tn budget, thanks Wike, lawmakersFG counters Obi, Kwankwaso over Tinubu’s re-election chancesThe call by the G100 aims to avoid going into the presidential poll with the opposition splitting votes, thereby giving the incumbent, Bola Tinubu, an edge at the polls.As a lover of suspense, I find it exciting to have three strong contenders going into the polls. Such a contest would test, fine-tune, and advance Nigeria’s political evolution. If the opposition political parties approach the polls individually, it is a no-brainer that the votes would be split between the APC, ADC, and NDC. The proportion of votes each party gets is uncertain and will be decided by the electorate. Depending on how close the contest is, the poll results may not produce a winner who meets the constitutional threshold on the first ballot. This would take the presidential elections into a run-off phase. Run-offs from presidential elections are set between the top two contenders from votes cast in the first ballot. If the incumbent makes the top two spots in an indecisive poll, the run-offs would be between the incumbent and one of the two aforementioned opposition candidates. This would leave the opposition with two options. Either they come together to try to wrest power from the incumbent a second time, or they again split, with some cutting deals with the incumbent to return him to power in the second ballot.If the opposition political parties do not come together before the 2027 elections to support a single candidate to face the incumbent, they would ultimately have to do so in a likely presidential run-off to have a shot at taking down the behemoth the APC has become.It is a privilege to witness history, as the 2027 presidential election has the potential to go down in history as one full of intrigue.Yohanna Bwala writes from Calgary, Alberta The call by the G100 aims to avoid going into the presidential poll with the opposition splitting votes, thereby giving the incumbent, Bola Tinubu, an edge at the polls.As a lover of suspense, I find it exciting to have three strong contenders going into the polls. Such a contest would test, fine-tune, and advance Nigeria’s political evolution. If the opposition political parties approach the polls individually, it is a no-brainer that the votes would be split between the APC, ADC, and NDC. The proportion of votes each party gets is uncertain and will be decided by the electorate. Depending on how close the contest is, the poll results may not produce a winner who meets the constitutional threshold on the first ballot. This would take the presidential elections into a run-off phase. Run-offs from presidential elections are set between the top two contenders from votes cast in the first ballot. If the incumbent makes the top two spots in an indecisive poll, the run-offs would be between the incumbent and one of the two aforementioned opposition candidates. This would leave the opposition with two options. Either they come together to try to wrest power from the incumbent a second time, or they again split, with some cutting deals with the incumbent to return him to power in the second ballot.If the opposition political parties do not come together before the 2027 elections to support a single candidate to face the incumbent, they would ultimately have to do so in a likely presidential run-off to have a shot at taking down the behemoth the APC has become.It is a privilege to witness history, as the 2027 presidential election has the potential to go down in history as one full of intrigue.Yohanna Bwala writes from Calgary, Alberta As a lover of suspense, I find it exciting to have three strong contenders going into the polls. Such a contest would test, fine-tune, and advance Nigeria’s political evolution. If the opposition political parties approach the polls individually, it is a no-brainer that the votes would be split between the APC, ADC, and NDC. The proportion of votes each party gets is uncertain and will be decided by the electorate. Depending on how close the contest is, the poll results may not produce a winner who meets the constitutional threshold on the first ballot. This would take the presidential elections into a run-off phase. Run-offs from presidential elections are set between the top two contenders from votes cast in the first ballot. If the incumbent makes the top two spots in an indecisive poll, the run-offs would be between the incumbent and one of the two aforementioned opposition candidates. This would leave the opposition with two options. Either they come together to try to wrest power from the incumbent a second time, or they again split, with some cutting deals with the incumbent to return him to power in the second ballot.If the opposition political parties do not come together before the 2027 elections to support a single candidate to face the incumbent, they would ultimately have to do so in a likely presidential run-off to have a shot at taking down the behemoth the APC has become.It is a privilege to witness history, as the 2027 presidential election has the potential to go down in history as one full of intrigue.Yohanna Bwala writes from Calgary, Alberta If the opposition political parties do not come together before the 2027 elections to support a single candidate to face the incumbent, they would ultimately have to do so in a likely presidential run-off to have a shot at taking down the behemoth the APC has become.It is a privilege to witness history, as the 2027 presidential election has the potential to go down in history as one full of intrigue.Yohanna Bwala writes from Calgary, Alberta It is a privilege to witness history, as the 2027 presidential election has the potential to go down in history as one full of intrigue.Yohanna Bwala writes from Calgary, Alberta Yohanna Bwala writes from Calgary, Alberta