President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a jab at political opponents rumored to be forming a coalition against his administration, describing them as “political internally displaced persons (IDPs)” who are not only fighting a lost cause but also plotting their own downfall.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with some political allies in Abuja, Tinubu dismissed the moves by certain opposition figures to unite under a common front as nothing more than a desperate act of self-preservation. According to the president, the coalition’s intentions to wrest power from him in 2027 are delusional and lack any real foundation.
“These people who are trying to come together in the name of a coalition, ask yourselves—what are they bringing to the table apart from their collective frustrations?” Tinubu asked rhetorically. “They are political IDPs—people who have lost relevance in their various parties and are now huddling together in the cold, hoping to find warmth.”
Although Tinubu did not mention any specific names, his statement is widely seen as a veiled reference to recent closed-door meetings between key figures in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and other smaller parties. There has been growing speculation about a “mega opposition alliance” aimed at challenging Tinubu’s hold on power, with some prominent former governors and presidential candidates reportedly involved in the negotiations.
But Tinubu appears unfazed. He maintained that his administration’s policies and developmental agenda will speak for themselves and that the electorate would not be swayed by what he called “a recycled gang of yesterday’s men.”
“You cannot defeat the future by clinging to the failures of the past,” he said. “Let them form all the coalitions they want—at the end of the day, they’re only unseating themselves.”
Political analysts are divided on the president’s remarks. Some see his dismissal of the opposition as a show of confidence rooted in his belief that the reforms and infrastructure projects his government has initiated will solidify his chances for re-election. Others, however, warn that underestimating a united opposition could prove politically costly, especially if the coalition gains traction among disenchanted voters.
Reactions from opposition camps have been swift. A senior PDP figure who requested anonymity said Tinubu’s comments are proof that he’s feeling the heat. “The man is nervous. He knows the 2027 race won’t be a walk in the park,” the source said.
For now, the idea of a grand coalition remains in the discussion phase, but Tinubu’s remarks have clearly drawn battle lines ahead of what promises to be an intense political contest in the coming years.
NewsGlobal Reporters