No fewer than eight political parties assembled at a summit called by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna yesterday to strategize towards establishing robust opposition parties in preparation for the 2027 general election.
The opposition parties in attendance at the summit included the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), KOWA party, Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
During the event, the Inter-Party Advisory Party (IPAC) advocated for the abolishment of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), highlighting the detrimental impact of state governors’ extensive powers and influence on the commission’s autonomy across the nation.
The IPAC national chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, also urged the reinstatement of the annual grant to political parties, which was removed from the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.
Dantalle emphasized the importance of opposition parties adhering to principles of accountability, transparency, and holding the government accountable to ensure effective governance. Summit chairman, Lawal Nalado, in his speech, expressed the unbearable hardship faced by Nigerians and stated that the purpose of the gathering was to deliberate and devise strategies for citizens to make well-informed decisions in the upcoming general elections.
Nalado refuted claims that the summit was organized to facilitate a merger or coalition among parties.
He assessed the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that it has not resolved Nigeria’s challenges but has instead created new ones.
Nalado stressed the need for opposition parties to mobilize grassroots voters and shift the focus from money, religion, or ethnicity to electing suitable candidates who can elevate the social and economic status of society.
In his remarks, the national chairman of PRP, Alhaji Falalu Bello, advocated for the effective mobilization of voters by opposition parties, emphasizing that fielding credible candidates alone is insufficient for winning elections, necessitating mass mobilization efforts.
Representing Bello, Sule Muhammad listed inadequate resources, lack of internal democracy, transparency issues, and interference by the ruling party as challenges affecting opposition parties in the country.
In a goodwill message, the national chairman of the KOWA party and spokesperson of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) urged opposition parties to actively highlight the shortcomings and deficiencies of the ruling government to prompt them to fulfill their duties and responsibilities to the people.
Additionally, the ADC national chairman Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu commended the political parties that participated in the summit, emphasizing that the ongoing dialogue to steer the country in the right direction will continue.
In his address, the chairman of ADC and IPAC in Kaduna State, Ahmed Tujjani, stated, “This is not a gathering for a merger or coalition ahead of 2027 but rather a summit to address our common issues and propose solutions to resolve them.
“We will reconvene tomorrow to present our communique, summarizing and possibly providing a working document to tackle our challenges before 2027.
“It is never too early to start, as we have initiated here, because as our people say, a Friday that will be good can be predicted from Wednesday.
“We brought together a coalition of strong opposition parties and youth groups to collectively contribute towards the betterment of our country.
“Nigerians must be informed and engaged by political parties if we genuinely aim to maintain citizens’ loyalty in preparation for the next general election,” he concluded.
The theme of the summit is a solid political party structure essential for the sustainability of the democratic process.
From: Nwakaji Peace Martins
