In preparation for the 2027 elections, opposition party members are pushing for a united front to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
They believe that only a strong alliance between major opposition parties can defeat the APC.
This comes after recent statements from Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi and New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso, who dismissed rumours of a merger between key opposition figures.
Reports had suggested that Obi, Kwankwaso, and former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had agreed to form a coalition against the APC, including a shared presidency plan.
However, Kwankwaso denied such agreements in an interview with BBC Hausa, stating that some northerners, “who declared themselves as the leaders of the north,” should allow the people to choose who they really want to be President.
Peter Obi also denied any merger talks at a press conference in Abuja. However, he encouraged patriotic Nigerians, especially those in opposition, to consider joining forces to defeat the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu.
Mathias Adache, a PDP leader in Benue South, emphasized that only a strong alliance between PDP, LP, and NNPP can bring about a change in government. He criticized the division within the opposition and called for unity to overcome the APC’s dominance.
Labour Party chieftain Henry Ternenge echoed similar sentiments, noting that the division among opposition parties led to their defeat in the 2023 elections. He pointed out that the combined votes of Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso in 2023 surpassed Tinubu’s total, but their split allowed Tinubu’s victory.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party has made it clear that there will be no automatic ticket for Peter Obi in 2027. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, confirmed that all positions, including the presidential candidacy, will be contested fairly.
