A Familiar Script

In what many have described as a bold political maneuver, a group of Nigerian politicians recently announced the formation of a coalition aimed at unseating the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections. On the surface, this sounds promising; a move driven, supposedly, by patriotic zeal to rescue Nigeria from persistent economic hardship, insecurity, and political stagnation. But a deeper look at the political actors behind this coalition reveals more of the same: recycled power brokers, familiar faces whose track records inspire little confidence.

I remain skeptical, and for good reason. The history of Nigerian politics, especially in the Fourth Republic, is littered with hastily assembled coalitions that promised reform and transformation but ended up serving the narrow interests of their leaders. What we often see, and seem to be seeing again, is an alliance driven less by ideological conviction and more by political survival, a strategy to wrest power from the incumbents, rather than to fundamentally change Nigeria’s trajectory. At the heart of this new coalition are politicians whose careers have been defined by party-switching, political deals, and personal ambition rather than a consistent vision for national development. Some of these figures were at one time part of the same APC they now vow to dislodge; others have held significant positions in past administrations without leaving behind tangible legacies. Nigerians are painfully familiar with this pattern: politicians moving from one platform to another, selling new promises, while the underlying interests remain unchanged.

The problem with coalitions of this nature is structural as well as moral. Structurally, these alliances often lack shared ideological foundations. Instead of being built on clear, actionable plans for governance, they revolve around power-sharing agreements: who gets the presidential ticket, who controls which state, and what offices are distributed among members. This transactional approach makes it nearly impossible for them to stay united when internal ambitions clash; inevitably leading to infighting and fragmentation before or after the elections.

From a moral perspective, many Nigerians find it difficult to trust politicians who have had ample opportunities to demonstrate integrity, vision, and effective leadership but failed to do so. Credibility is built over time, through consistent principles and visible impact, not through eleventh-hour declarations of wanting to “rescue” Nigeria. Unfortunately, many faces in this coalition inspire more cynicism than hope, as citizens recall unmet promises, corruption allegations, and self-serving policies of the past. Moreover, coalitions that claim to “rescue” Nigeria must be clear about what exactly they intend to change, and how they intend to do it differently. Will they dismantle the entrenched systems of patronage and corruption? Will they empower institutions instead of individuals? Will they invest in human capital, infrastructure, and genuine democratic reforms? Or will they simply replicate existing systems under new banners, with new beneficiaries? So far, what we hear are loud slogans and vague assurances; hardly the substance that inspires genuine hope.

The danger is that, once again, voters may be caught between choosing a ruling party that has failed to deliver and an opposition coalition that lacks credibility, vision, and unity. Nigeria’s democracy needs robust alternatives, not just electorally viable ones, but credible movements grounded in clear policy proposals and genuine public engagement. It requires fresh faces, new ideas, and leaders willing to sacrifice personal ambition for national progress. Sadly, this new coalition seems far from offering that. It looks more like an alliance of political veterans aiming to reposition themselves for the next election cycle. In the end, without addressing the fundamental issues; lack of ideology, credibility deficits, and a politics centered on power rather than service, this coalition is unlikely to deliver meaningful change for Nigerians.

For Nigeria to move forward, the conversation must shift from who holds power to how power is exercised, for whose benefit, and on what moral and developmental foundations. Until then, new coalitions made up of old players risk repeating the same script: promises of change that never truly materialize, leaving citizens disillusioned yet again. In 2027, Nigerians deserve more than a rebranded elite contesting for power. We deserve a genuine, people-centered movement ready to do the hard work of reform. Unfortunately, this coalition, in its current form, does not seem to be it.

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