Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have formed a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The trio unveiled the coalition on Wednesday, March 20, 2025, citing concerns over governance, economic policies, and national unity.
The coalition, named the National Rescue Movement (NRM), aims to provide a formidable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and address what it describes as the “failures” of the Tinubu-led government. Atiku, who ran against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, emphasized the need for a united front to rescue Nigeria from its current challenges.
Fayemi and El-Rufai, both prominent APC members who have been critical of the party’s direction in recent months, joined forces with Atiku to create a broad-based movement. The coalition includes politicians, activists, and professionals from across the country, signaling a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape.
In a joint statement, the leaders outlined the coalition’s objectives, which include promoting good governance, economic revitalization, and national cohesion. They also criticized the Tinubu administration for its handling of key issues such as insecurity, inflation, and unemployment, vowing to offer alternative solutions.
The launch of the NRM has sparked mixed reactions, with supporters hailing it as a necessary step to hold the government accountable and critics dismissing it as a political maneuver ahead of the 2027 elections. The coalition’s emergence is expected to intensify political activities and reshape alliances in the coming months.
As the Tinubu administration faces growing scrutiny, the NRM’s formation signals a new phase in Nigeria’s political dynamics, with opposition forces uniting to challenge the status quo.