Presidential candidates of the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, responded to the attacks over the recently formed coalition ahead of the 2027 election, from the former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode Goerge, and the former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau.
This news has left the public flabbergasted about the reason for such a decision, acknowledging that these two candidates are of separate ideologies as seen in the previously held national election.
It is seen by both George and Shekarau that the agenda of this coalition and idea to seize power from the ruling All Progressive Congress in the forthcoming 2027 election is believed to be driven by personal motives and ambition, as it would never have been thought of that both candidates would arrive at such an unrealistic decision.
This information about the coalition was made public three days after a press conference held in Abuja with Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufia, along with others present in the conference, which brought about the end of speculations and anxiety over the existence of such a meeting.
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Paul Ibe, who happened to be the media aide representing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, stated categorically that, “the coalition train has left the station. It’s going to stop at the stopovers, and people are going to get on board. If Bode and Shekarau want to get on board, they are at liberty to do so. Otherwise, they should just keep quiet. People like Bode George don’t know anything about the coalition. He knows nothing about it. So, he cannot speak to what he doesn’t know.”
Tanko, speaking heavily on behalf of Obi, said, “We have coalesced and made our position known. As regards the issue in Rivers State, we have made our pronouncement. We are out for nation-building; if they have their own views and they are supporting what happens, that’s clear to Nigerians. But we are against it and have made our position known.”
However, when it was asked if the talks concerning a megaparty had commenced, Tanko’s response was that the public would get to know about that when it was done, saying, “We should wait till when that particular announcement will be made known to everyone. I have said it before: when it’s time for that particular announcement to be made, it will be made.
Mallam Salihu Lukman, who happened to be the former National Vice Chairman (North West) of the APC, stated explicitly that the coalition is as a result of ensuring that the country doesn’t fall into a one-party state by rallying the opposition, as it is observed that many political parties are experiencing internal clashes and leadership crises. This is to ensure that the ruling APC does not end up as the only party contesting the 2027 election.
He further buttressed that “it is to appeal to everybody to understand that the country is at a critical stage because right now, where we are is that all the parties have been pushed into a state of oblivion, basically, a state of crisis that, at the end, we may end up not having parties that will contest the election, except perhaps the APC.
Lukman replied when asked about the progression of the proposed megaparty; he simply responded by saying, “Who is talking about a megaparty?” That his understanding of whatever a megaparty is is a party that will be attractive to Nigerians just as the APC was in 2014-2015. Thus we are getting there and are confident that all will be successful.
