•Atiku, Kwankwaso and Peter Obi
Options available to Nigeria’s opposition leaders and political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections are somewhat limited, but they’ve shown signs of not giving up.
With the next election in about two years, opposition politicians have already started hoarding together and speaking out against the current administration’s policies and decisions, reports Saturday Vanguard.
Some possible options for the opposition include: Rebranding and Reorganisation.
Political pundits argue that the opposition needs to revamp its image and structure to appeal to a wider audience and build a stronger support base.
It also needs to build coalitions and form alliances now more than ever before to create a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The political camp of Atiku Abubakar, one of the leading opposition figures is upbeat about the possibility of the opposition causing an upset come 2027.
A source within the camp who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, explained that Atiku, like other opposition leaders, is conscious of the issues at stake.
The source said, “Atiku like his colleagues in opposition is fully aware of what is at stake. At this point, the issue of position sharing is not on their minds.
“What is on their minds is not about who will be president or vice president, it is about saving our country from an avoidable catastrophe staring us in the face.
“Just watch and see. There’s a serious realignment of forces coming. This is unlike what has happened in the past because as a nation we are facing an existential threat. What we will do will be different from what we did in the past.
“We have a president who is becoming a full-blown dictator. Discussions have gone very well and very far, about stopping him. Details of what we’re doing and how far we’ve gone are not what we would want in the media space for very obvious reasons.
“Any sign of unity among the opposition attracts institutional attacks from the ruling party. You come out with your plans, they plant their people. The much as I can say for now is that registering a new political party is off the table.”
We must make sacrifices and come together for Nigeriav- Labour Party
National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Obiora Ifoh, said, “We all should learn from what happened to us as opposition in 2023.
“In spite of the electoral heist by the ruling party, imagine if all the votes that went to opposition parties went to one candidate. It will be nearly impossible for INEC and the APC to do what they did.
“Going forward, opposition parties and leaders must unite, make sacrifices to liberate our country. This is more than the personal ambitions of individuals or their political platforms.
“There is no need seeking to register a new party, the LP is here. This is a party that in less than eight months caused a major upset nationwide. For those of us in opposition, it is either we make sacrifices and come together or fizzle out and give the ruling party a free reign.
What we must do as opposition to succeed – Ameh
National Secretary of the Conference of United Political Parties (CUPP), Chief Peter Ameh, told Saturday Vanguard that the ruling party has infiltrated the rank and file of the opposition.
Ameh said, “The opposition’s woes are compounded by the lack of internal political party processes.
“Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso are all qualified to be president but should not allow their personal ambitions take precedence over the collective goal of defeating the APC.
“If the opposition intends to win then they must all align themselves to the existing gentleman’s agreement between the North and South which rooted in power rotation so that the ability to mount a credible challenge is not compromised by any other interest.
“However, all is not lost. There is a growing recognition among Nigerians that the country needs a viable opposition to hold the ruling party accountable.
“The gentleman’s agreement between the south and north to take turns ruling the country could provide a basis for unity among opposition parties.
“If the South is indeed due to produce the next President, then opposition parties must be willing to make concessions and rally behind a single candidate that has the potential to defeat the incumbent president.
“Historically, opposition parties have played a crucial role in shaping Nigeria’s democracy. During the Second Republic, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as the Leader of the Opposition, provided a robust check on the ruling party’s excesses.
“His example shows that a strong opposition can make a real difference in promoting good governance and accountability.
“To revitalize their fortunes, opposition parties must put aside their differences and work towards a common goal.
“They must also engage in robust policy debates and offer credible alternatives to the ruling party’s policies.
“As noted by many political observers, opposition politicians are already meeting and strategizing under various platforms.
“This is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to build a united and effective opposition.
“while the outlook for the opposition in Nigeria appears bright, there are still more work to be done.
“By uniting behind a single candidate, engaging in policy debates, and offering credible alternatives, opposition parties can revitalize their fortunes and provide a robust check on the ruling party.
“The 2027 election may yet provide an opportunity for the opposition to reclaim its relevance and shape Nigeria’s democratic future.”
