The 2023 presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, along with former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, have announced the formation of a coalition of opposition leaders to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The former Vice President confirmed this while responding to a question on behalf of the opposition leaders, during a press conference on Thursday at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
There have been increasing discussions recently on whether opposition parties should form a coalition to defeat President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku has repeatedly stressed the importance of unity among opposition parties.
In his latest remarks on March 8, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate revealed that he was working to unite opposition parties in a coalition to remove the All Progressives Congress from power.
After El-Rufai’s move from the APC to the SDP on March 10, conversations among opposition parties and leaders gained significant traction.
Atiku, accompanied by opposition leaders on Thursday, declared that the gathering marked the beginning of the coalition.
He stated, “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.”
The former Governor of Anambra State, Obi, also supported Atiku’s statement, emphasising that the coalition aimed at the liberation of the Nigerian people.
Obi, represented by Yunusa Tanko, the Interim National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, stated that Nigerians would see more of the coalition addressing governance issues.
In an exclusive interview with The TheNigerian, he stated “Yes, His Excellency Peter Obi and former Vice President are together on this. The idea of plans for a dialogue among the opposition is very important. It is established that we need to work together as a team; there’s no doubt about it, even the former Anambra State Governor himself has said it before.
“But the only thing he emphasised is that it must be based on a programme to emancipate the Nigerian people, and that is exactly what we have just started.
“Our democracy has been attacked morally, with indignity and a level of disdain. That was exactly what was shown in that particular pronouncement against the Rivers State government and we will not stand as democrats to continue witnessing such a bizarre show of power and an unacceptable level of disdain against the Nigerian people.
“So, Nigerians should expect to see this coalition, especially when it comes to the issues that affect the lives of the Nigerian people—issues like power supply, security, and the level of disdain with which our educational systems are moving. All of this will be issue-based.”
When questioned about the party, he responded, “It will be announced.”
Other opposition leaders present at the press conference were former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ameh, and the Convener of The Alternative, Segun Showunmi, among others.
Among those involved in the coalition, but whose apologies for absence were noted, are leaders from the ruling APC, including former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and the immediate past National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu.
In an exclusive interview with The TheNigerian, Ameh stated that talks about the coalition had intensified.
He disclosed that the coalition effort involved politicians from various opposition parties.
He, however, said no decision had yet been made regarding the name or platform on which the coalition would be based.
He stated “As the former Vice President mentioned, the press conference signals the birth of the coalition. The discussions have intensified, and we will continue to engage with political leaders and parties.
“As of now, we have not yet decided on the name or platform for the coalition. However, discussions are ongoing regarding both. It will be announced once we reach a conclusion and agreement.”
The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, urged party leaders to remain flexible as the coalition discussions take centre stage.
In an interview with The TheNigerian, Osadolor stated that it was in the best interest of both the PDP and Nigeria as a whole to ensure the APC was removed from power in 2027.
He stated “Well, my advice to the leaders of the PDP is that they should not be too static or too rigid. They should also learn to be flexible and accommodating because they are the big brother of all the other opposition parties in this country.
“Therefore, they should be able to shift some ground to accommodate and make the coalition a major talking point.
“It is in the best interest of PDP and all Nigerians that this government is kicked into the dustbin of history.”
APC dismisses coalition
The APC has, however, dismissed the coalition, claiming that Atiku was simply speculating.
The APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, mocked Atiku for being a frequent contestant and a repeated loser, stating that the ruling party would not lose sleep over them.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, Ibrahim advised the former Vice President to stop name-dropping and allow those involved in the coalition to speak for themselves.
He stated “Not at all, we won’t lose sleep over it. You see, there is a difference between rhetoric and action. There is a difference between ambition and realisation.
“There is a difference between reality and dream. When you come out to make speculations and name-drop in the name of collusion, you are more or less making speculations.
“Atiku should allow the actors involved to make the pronouncements themselves, rather than him mentioning their names, which they may or may not necessarily agree with.
“So, I think for Atiku, having been a serial contestant and a serial loser, he ought to know the differences that exist in these kinds of permutations.
“As the ruling party, the APC is not bothered in the slightest, because all the people mentioned are those who have gone to the polls with the APC and lost.”
Ibrahim further stated that the party had continued to increase in membership and its tentacles of leadership growing.
“The APC, from the period it beats them to death, is not losing its membership, but increasing its membership, and its tentacles of leadership are increasingly growing.
“The people will continue to realise good dividends of democracy from the APC government, such that they will not regret voting for the party, nor will they think of giving up,” he added.
Ganduje backs Tinubu
The National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, said no political alliance or arrangement would prevent Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
In a statement released on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, Oliver Okpala, Ganduje said his support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 was unwavering and solid as the rock of Gibraltar.
The statement stated, “Dr Ganduje does not have any fear of the re-election of President Tinubu in 2027.
“Tinubu will surely emerge victorious because of his untrammelled performance since he assumed office as President of Nigeria.
“Forget the recent political gatherings and rantings from some politicians who presently do not have any identifiable political base.
“Their gathering from the Labour Party, PDP, SDP and others are people with different political ideologies and selfish political interests that can never agree on any issue politically.
“The gathering is an assemblage of people with divergent political interests. No amount of political arrangement or gang-up can stop the good people of Nigeria from re-electing Tinubu as President in 2027.”
‘Tinubu remains focused’
The Presidency has restated Tinubu’s commitment to good governance to build a prosperous country.
The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, in “My message to the coalition of Tinubu haters,” posted on his X handle, said “President Tinubu is focused on governance to build a prosperous country. He is on the way to achieving this. Two months to his midterm, he has many solid achievements to showcase. Intractable problems are being tackled headlong.
“He cannot be distracted by the so-called coalition of politicians. They are not politicians after the public good. It’s all about their self-interest.
“They are disgruntled. They are a frustrated lot. The leaders are sore losers. The coalition is an amalgam of Tinubu haters. Their agenda is to stop Tinubu.”
