Opposition Parties Urged to Unite for 2027 Elections as LP Denies Automatic Ticket for Obi

Advocates pushing for change in Nigeria’s political landscape are calling for a robust coalition among major opposition parties to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

This comes on the heels of comments from Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi, and New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso, who both dismissed notions of ongoing merger discussions among key political figures.

Recent reports had suggested a possible alliance where Kwankwaso and former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would rotate the presidency for four years each, with Obi serving for eight years.

Kwankwaso refuted these claims in a BBC Hausa interview, emphasizing that historical events should deter leaders from presuming candidate selection.

Obi, holding a press conference in Abuja, reiterated that no merger had been established with other opposition factions, while urging patriotic individuals within these parties to band together in a bid to unseat Tinubu.

PDP chieftain Mathias Adache expressed the viewpoint that a significant alliance is crucial for a governmental change, citing past failures to succeed independently in the elections.

He emphasized that unity is vital, blaming politician greed for the disarray, and suggesting that the ruling APC might benefit from the divisions among opposition leaders.

Labour Party representative Henry Ternenge stated that the lack of unification within opposition ranks contributed to Tinubu’s 2023 victory.

He argued that if opposition votes had not been split across multiple candidates, Tinubu may have lost the election, calling for immediate collaboration to prepare for the upcoming election.

In a separate note, the Labour Party clarified that Peter Obi would not automatically be given the presidential ticket for the upcoming elections.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, affirmed that all positions would be contested in the next election cycle.