Legal expert and political commentator, Oba Maduabuchi, has described President Bola Tinubu’s decision to align with Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 as a calculated and brilliant political move that changed Nigeria’s power dynamics.
Speaking on Arise TV, Maduabuchi praised Tinubu’s foresight in ceding the presidential ticket to Buhari, despite controlling five governors at the time. “When Tinubu had a coalition with Buhari, he ceded the presidency to him even though Tinubu had five governors,” he said.
“But he knew there was something Buhari had that he needed, 12 million votes. If he added that to his own five or seven million, they could remove PDP. That is political sagacity.”
Maduabuchi noted that Tinubu not only stepped aside for Buhari but also gave up the vice-presidential slot in order to solidify the coalition that would eventually become the All Progressives Congress. That alliance ended the 16-year reign of the Peoples Democratic Party and brought the APC to national power.
The lawyer’s comments spotlight a defining moment in Nigeria’s recent political history, Tinubu’s decision to prioritize strategy over ambition. At the time, Buhari’s consistent voter base in the North was a critical asset, and Tinubu’s influence in the South-West made the alliance formidable.
The interview has reignited conversations around the value of compromise and coalition-building in Nigerian politics. Analysts say the success of that decision is still evident today as the APC remains the dominant political force in the country.
