As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has expressed confidence that the emerging opposition coalition is well-prepared to withstand internal and external challenges that may threaten its unity and purpose.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust, Malami acknowledged that political sabotage and internal betrayal are genuine risks in any coalition.
However, he emphasized that the group is not only aware of these threats but is also equipped to manage them as they arise.
“In a political arrangement, you cannot rule out any possibility, including the possibility of infiltration,” Malami said.
“But, one fundamental thing is, we are resolved to continue, we shall continue, and we shall overcome. We are working to overcome any challenge as it arises.”
The coalition, which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and potentially unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, has been drawing increasing attention from political observers.
Malami, who served in the cabinet of former President Muhammadu Buhari, pointed out that political alliances naturally face hurdles such as personal ambition, infiltration, and strategic sabotage.
Yet, he reiterated that the coalition’s leadership is focused and committed to its cause.
“You cannot rule out the possibility of a crisis, you cannot rule out the possibility of infiltration, nor can you rule out all other negative possibilities”.
“We are resolved to overcome them. We work in the direction of overcoming them. That is the most fundamental and critical issue about it.”
When asked about the potential disruption that personal ambitions could cause within the coalition, Malami acknowledged their inevitability in political contexts. He stressed the importance of internal discipline and deliberate conflict management.
“Political engagement includes personal ambitions. But the most important thing is how hard you work in managing them.”
“We cannot rule out that possibility because political engagement is about ambitions. And ambitions are meant to be managed, and we are resolved to manage them as they arise.”
