ATIKU, OBI ALLIANCE CANNOT DEFEAT TINUBU IN 2027 PRESIDENCY – APC
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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra Governor Peter Obi are among the opposition figures who have been told by the ruling All Progressives Congress that no coalition of them will be strong enough to prevent President Bola Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.
In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, APC National Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim issued the warning.
When Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said that both his principal and his counterpart from the Labour Party had learned their lessons from the previous general elections and would work together to remove the “incompetent and clueless” APC administration, Ibrahim was responding.
He asserts that the 12 million votes cast by the two leaders should have been sufficient to overthrow the President and cease the suffering he has inflicted on Nigerians.
Ibe shared his opinions on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.
Following the interview, there were reactions from the main opposition, who agreed that a merger or coalition of forces might beat the APC in a similar way to how former President Muhammadu Buhari overthrew incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
Umar Ibrahim, Obi’s media assistant, emphasized when approached that his principle was dedicated to a better Nigeria and would work with anyone who shared his vision, provided that their goal was not state capture.
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Ibrahim said, “This dedication stems from his unshakeable optimism in the country’s potential and his focus on the welfare and prosperity of all citizens. Regarding Paul Ibe’s statement about Atiku’s willingness to unite with Obi, it’s clear that both leaders are open to working together to save Nigeria from the APC-led administration’s tyranny.
“However, Obi’s commitment to collaboration isn’t limited to any particular individual or party.”
The Social Democratic Party and the Coalition of United Political Parties, Nigeria’s opposition political parties, have voiced their concerns, arguing that the nation requires more than a partnership between the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidates.
According to the CUPP and SDP, Nigerians must demand legitimate elections and assemble a group of reliable leaders to lead a rescue effort that serves the interests of the entire country if they are to defeat the APC.
A cooperation might help opposition parties defeat the APC, according to CUPP National Secretary Peter Ahmeh. Ahmeh emphasized that a coalition committed to free and fair elections was the most important one at this moment.
He stated, “Our country has its ways. Atiku is a wonderful leader in Nigeria. That is very important. But the fact is there will be some sentiments that will come into play if you don’t put a person from southern Nigeria on the ballot. If you don’t do that, the idea that the northerners have taken over their eight years will now become part of the discussion across southwestern, southeastern, and South-South Nigeria.
“So, what we should do is believe that at the end of the day, these two leaders and other leaders will find common ground, where they will put the interest of Nigeria before their personal interests, allowing us to win this election and determine the future of Nigeria in a way that will benefit all Nigerians.”
Reacting to the possibility of a coalition between Atiku and Obi’s group to defeat the APC, he stated that in addition to a coalition, Nigerians must demand that elections be decided and concluded at the polling unit.
He added, “Yes, a coalition can help the opposition party defeat the APC. There’s no doubt about that. It will also facilitate the easy defeat of the APC.
“But the most important coalition we need at this moment is one that ensures elections are free and fair. Because if we do that, even when people form a coalition, we still face the problem of draconian leadership that can cause glitches in the server, or manipulate election results without proper authority behind it. The solution is that our elections should be decided by the polling unit.
“The Republic of Ghana has shown this. If you look at the commission chairperson, votes are cast at the polling unit, votes are recorded at the polling unit, and winners are announced at the polling unit. We should do away with these coalition centres, which are fraudulent centres for the manipulation of results.
“We still believe that when the people are determined and stay true to their convictions, the electorate will go to the polling unit and make their decision. But a coalition will only facilitate and make it easier for the opposition to reach the Presidency.”
Shehu Gabam, the SDP’s national chairman, said that a coalition might not be the best course of action right now.
Gabam clarified on Tuesday that political parties had a long-standing lack of unity, which has led to a trust deficit that impacts the majority of parties, with very few exceptions.
He stated, “The coalition will not do much right now. The decay is extremely bad, and the loss of gravity in the political space is another point of concern. What people are looking forward to is the assembly of credible individuals to form a rescue movement that is credible and has a solid base; this has nothing to do with the coalition of political parties.
“The parties, over a long period of time, could not galvanise themselves. The trust deficit has enveloped the various political parties, apart from a few. Even if you merge all the parties, the roles of individuals who are good, credible, and have been tested will draw people, not the roles of the political parties.
“There is a trust deficit, and this may lead to a crisis among various political parties. What the people are looking for are individuals who have a record of service and the ability to be creative.
Regarding Atiku and Obi, he said, “All I know is that every hand is needed to be on board to salvage the situation. We are talking about salvaging Nigeria. And the knowledge required to do that is not domiciled in a single individual. We have a multitude of talents in the country, with the energy and capacity to turn things around for good; it’s just that they have not been organised.
“So, for me, what is critical is to focus on the individuals, the energy sector, and their intellectual base to harness the strength in our diversity for the benefit of all.”
In a same vein, the All Progressives Grand Alliance declared that it was prepared to join forces with other progressive political groups from different parties in order to create a Nigeria in which the people could take pride.
While briefing reporters in Abuja, APGA National Chairman Sly Ezeokenwa made this announcement, repeating remarks made by Charles Soludo, the party’s national leader and governor of Anambra State.
Ezeokenwa claimed that the APGA was now ready to retake its place in Nigerian politics after the Supreme Court’s ruling upheld his chairmanship and ended the party’s internal leadership dispute.
“APGA proudly has elected representatives within and outside the South East. We are ready and willing to work with all other progressives to build Nigeria because we believe in our country.
“As part of our commitment to reconciliation, we have granted amnesty to party members who are genuinely repentant, irrespective of which side they supported during the crisis,” he said.
But Bala Ibrahim laughed at the thought of both Atiku and Obi, who he described as strange bedfellows, coming together with the sole aim of stopping Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The APC spokesman also said no potential from the opposition, who he said are enmeshed in crisis, can seriously pose any serious threat to the ruling party.
He said, “It is a dream gone wrong. All over the world, you don’t add up the total votes in an election and hope to use it to topple the votes of the winner. No! You don’t do that. A smart winner always capitalises on that to create a crack within the opposition. This is because each candidate is aspiring to win.
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