Former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, says personal ambition and political greed have weakened the opposition coalition many Nigerians hoped would provide a strong challenge ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Friday during an appearance on Arise Television's *Morning Show*, Dalung expressed concern over the growing divisions among opposition leaders, arguing that their inability to unite has diminished expectations for a credible alternative political force.
According to him, individual interests have taken precedence over collective goals, resulting in a fragmented opposition landscape marked by multiple presidential aspirants.
“Greed has taken over. You can see the manifestation of individual ambition and interest, and the list of presidential candidates seems to be endless,” Dalung said.
He noted that opposition politicians appear more focused on pursuing personal political ambitions than building a united front capable of winning power.
Dalung also warned that Nigeria's political environment is beginning to mirror the regional alignments of the First Republic, with political support increasingly concentrated along geographical lines.
“Nigeria has returned to the politics of the First Republic, where regions had their political parties. The election is already divided along those lines because almost all the zones have presidential candidates,” he said.
He added that the trend could complicate the 2027 electoral process, as candidates are likely to rely heavily on support from their respective regions rather than pursuing broader national appeal.
“So, ultimately in 2027, we may be facing serious confusion as we advance towards the election because everybody now is going to hold on to his region. The candidates will concentrate on votes coming from their regions,” Dalung stated.
