2027: Opposition merger talks stall as Coalition accuses PDP of fielding weak candidate

...

PDP Governors face accusations of sabotage...



Wike shielding PDP from producing presidential challenger — CoalitionBy Sodiq AdelakunEfforts to unite opposition forces against President Bola Tinubu in preparation for the 2027 general elections have stalled, as a prominent coalition of political leaders has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of deliberately frustrating talks.According to Nigerian NewsDirect, the coalition, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the PDP of intentionally sabotaging efforts to form an alliance by planning to field a weak presidential candidate.In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by former APC National Vice Chairman Salihu Lukman, the coalition accused PDP governors of rejecting a merger proposal.

They allege the governors are either intentionally or unintentionally supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid by refusing to cooperate with other opposition factions.Lukman, a leader of the coalition, stated that the PDP governors are “wittingly or unwittingly playing Asiwaju’s spoiler game” by rejecting the proposed alliance. He claimed that the governors recognise the party’s deepening dysfunction and its failure to offer a viable alternative to the ruling APC.

“The meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum on Monday, April 14, 2025, declared its opposition to the initiative to form a broad-based coalition of opposition political parties, politicians, and other groups. This coalition presents a viable option to not only defeat the APC and President Bola Tinubu, but also to rescue our democracy from imminent collapse,” Lukman said.Unveiled on March 20, the opposition coalition was intended to build a formidable political force to challenge the APC’s dominance.

However, the PDP Governors’ Forum, under the leadership of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, recently declared its refusal to entertain any merger or coalition, instead welcoming individuals into the party.Responding to this stance, Lukman remarked: “The PDP, as a major opposition party, welcomes any party, persons, or groups that are willing to join it with the aim of wresting power and ensuring good leadership in 2027. However, the governors know that Nigerians cannot accept this PDP as the alternative.

It is clear to all discerning Nigerians that the ruling party has hijacked its soul.”Lukman further criticised the PDP’s failure to convene a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting for two years, and the absence of clear leadership direction within the party.“The fact that the NEC meeting of the party has not been held for two years, and no Nigerian can confidently say who is really in charge of the party, is evidence of its collapse.

This should be a major concern for the party’s leaders, including its governors,” he stated.Lukman also accused the governors of undermining internal democracy within the PDP by usurping the powers of party organs, a situation he described as detrimental to democratic institutions in the country.“Unfortunately, all we have seen from the PDP governors is the flagrant usurpation of the powers assigned to the organs of the party.

This is wrong. It also clearly demonstrates that if left unchecked, the PDP governors will continue on a path that erodes democratic institutions in the country,” he said.In a particularly sharp critique, Lukman accused Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, of wielding significant influence to prevent the PDP from presenting a viable presidential challenger to Tinubu.

“Nyesom Wike is the untouchable super minister in Asiwaju’s government, not because of the sterling work he is doing in the FCT, but because he has ensured that the PDP is unable to present a presidential candidate to challenge Tinubu in 2027,” Lukman claimed.The coalition also accused the PDP of seeking to revive itself not to win the presidency, but to split opposition votes and weaken the broader coalition.“The new agenda is to revive the PDP to stand as a counterforce to the coalition and present a candidate who will split the vote in 2027.

This PDP Governors’ Forum is, knowingly or unknowingly, playing Asiwaju’s spoiler game, and they expect Nigerians to take them seriously,” Lukman said.He reaffirmed the coalition’s commitment to its mission of rebuilding Nigerian democracy and fostering unity among genuine opposition actors.“For the avoidance of doubt, the coalition is fundamentally about rebuilding Nigerian democracy.

Leaders of the coalition recognise this, and more importantly, they recognise the challenges ahead. Overcoming these challenges and rebuilding Nigerians’ confidence hinges on restoring the value of political negotiations as critical to guaranteeing the survival of democracy,” he said.Lukman concluded with a call for unity, urging all opposition stakeholders to set aside personal ambitions and work towards the collective goal of national salvation.

“We call on all true democrats across the political spectrum to put aside ego, ambition, and party barriers, and commit to building a coalition for national salvation,” he said.The post 2027: Opposition merger talks stall as Coalition accuses PDP of fielding weak candidate appeared first on Nigerian NewsDirect..