Salihu Lukman, a former Vice-chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the north-west, asserts that to defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso should collaborate in an alliance.
In the 2023 general election, Obi and Kwankwaso ran as presidential candidates for the Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) respectively.
Lukman suggested that a potential alliance could include former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, along with ex-governors Nasir el-Rufai, Kayode Fayemi, and Rotimi Amaechi.
In a statement on Sunday, Lukman, the former director-general of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), criticized the APC for failing to curb corruption despite its promise to do so under its administrations. He urged political leaders, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, not to exploit the need for unity by pushing their presidential ambitions.
He also called on other APC leaders such as Osinbajo, Amaechi, Fayemi, El-Rufai, and Amosu to set aside their presidential aspirations during negotiations for forming a united political front.
Lukman emphasized the importance of political unity across parties to foster a new atmosphere of reconciliation and selflessness in Nigeria. He warned that without cooperation among political leaders, bad governance would persist, undermining national unity and democratic institutions.
He concluded by stressing the necessity for teamwork and partnership among opposition leaders, asserting that rebuilding democratic institutions and holding elected officials accountable requires united effort, whether through party mergers, the formation of new parties, or rebranding existing ones.
