Photo Ops and Power Hops: Why Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai and Co. Are Unknowingly Paving the Road to Another Tinubu Victory

By Abidemi Adebamiwa

In the chaotic sprint toward the 2027 presidential election, Nigeria’s political opposition is beginning to resemble a frenzied photo gallery rather than a movement with substance. The likes of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai have turned the political arena into a parade of handshakes, forced smiles, and backdoor alliances, captured in crisp press photos meant to convey unity but instead dripping with desperation. If they think these publicity stunts are going to win them the presidency, they are in for a bitter disappointment. Because while they pose and posture, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is quietly consolidating power — and watching them fumble.

The recent string of highly publicized visits and coalition talks is beginning to raise eyebrows across Nigeria. Peter Obi, who built his 2023 campaign on anti-establishment credibility, was recently seen visiting Atiku Abubakar in Abuja — a man who symbolizes the very political class Obi once denounced. The cameras were rolling, the headlines screamed “realignment,” and yet, the streets responded with skepticism rather than enthusiasm. Nigerians aren’t fooled. These optics, far from inspiring confidence, reek of political opportunism.

Atiku, on his part, continues to court every disgruntled governor, ex-minister, and party dropout he can find, projecting the image of a kingmaker. But the optics are all wrong. What voters see isn’t a statesman building a credible front to challenge Tinubu; they see a man who has tried — and failed — five times to win the presidency, now flailing in every direction. And when Adewole Adebayo of the SDP openly admits that talks are ongoing to absorb Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai into a common platform, the sense of ideological vacuum becomes undeniable. It’s not about shared vision — it’s about shared ambition. Nigerians can tell.

There’s a deeper danger in the strategy they’re adopting — one they clearly haven’t thought through. When opposition figures saturate the media with images of handshakes and declarations of alliance, they inadvertently create the illusion of having already won the battle. The risk? A large chunk of potential voters could feel there’s no need to show up at the polls. “They’ve already won,” many might think. “Why bother voting?” This dangerous sense of complacency has been the death of many promising campaigns, both at home and abroad. Overconfidence kills momentum. And in a country where voter turnout is already low, it could be the final nail in their electoral coffin.

This is why these men must be extremely careful. Publicity does not equal victory. Optics are not strategy. They need to stop operating like influencers and start acting like statesmen. If they truly want to unseat Tinubu, they must surround themselves with seasoned political strategists — not praise-singers or recycled consultants from past failures. They need sharp, data-driven, streetwise political analysts who understand ground realities — and even more importantly, they need a credible, reputable opposition research team. Not just to attack Tinubu blindly, but to deeply understand his strengths, public perception, and areas of vulnerability.

Nigerians are not looking for another photo-op coalition. They are yearning for a clearly articulated alternative — one with policies, a workable vision, and the guts to stand up to the status quo without looking like clowns in agbadas staging an Instagram reunion. If the opposition continues down this path of performance politics, they may well be remembered not as the hope for change, but as the architects of Tinubu’s second term. The road to Aso Rock is not a red carpet — it’s a battlefield. And on this terrain, only those who think smart, move strategically, and act with purpose will stand a chance.

Abidemi Adebamiwa is the Managing Editor @ Newspot Nigeria