By Divine Sam
As the 2027 elections approach, opposition members in Nigeria are intensifying calls for a merger between key political parties to effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Recent statements from opposition figures, including Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi and New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso, have dismissed reports of any merger talks.
These reports had suggested an alliance between Kwankwaso, Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Kwankwaso, in particular, denied any agreement to share the presidency and called for a more inclusive process in selecting candidates, emphasizing the need for the people to choose their leaders. Obi, while dismissing the merger rumors, urged opposition parties to unite ahead of the 2027 elections to remove President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that no single party could defeat the APC alone.
PDP chieftains, like Mathias Adache, emphasized that a strong alliance of the major opposition parties—PDP, LP, and NNPP—is essential to defeat Tinubu in 2027, referencing the successful 2015 alliance that led to the APC’s victory. Adache also criticized opposition leaders, particularly Atiku, for not prioritizing unity and national interest.
On the other hand, LP’s Henry Ternenge highlighted the fragmentation of opposition votes in the 2023 election, which he argued helped Tinubu win despite receiving fewer total votes than the combined opposition. He expressed frustration that opposition leaders have yet to unite for the upcoming election.
Despite these calls for unity, the LP has stated that Peter Obi would not receive an automatic ticket for the 2027 presidential race, asserting that all party positions, including the presidential nomination, will be contested.
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