Prominent activist and NDC supporter Aisha Yesufu has called on Nigeria's opposition parties to unite behind former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that a united front offers the best chance of defeating the ruling party.
In a statement addressed to members of various opposition groups, including the Labour Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and independent political actors, Yesufu said the opposition's greatest challenge has not been a lack of voter support but its inability to present a single presidential candidate.
According to her, the outcome of the 2023 presidential election demonstrated that the combined votes of opposition parties exceeded those secured by President Bola Tinubu, who was declared the winner with 36 percent of the total votes cast.
"The math has never been the problem. The math has always favoured us. The problem is that we ran three campaigns where we needed to run one," she said.
Yesufu argued that the 2027 presidential election would not be decided by the political party with the loudest supporters but by the coalition capable of building the broadest national alliance.
She described Peter Obi as the opposition figure with the strongest electoral credentials, citing his performance in the 2023 election, where he won Lagos State, the political stronghold of President Tinubu.
According to her, Obi possesses broad regional appeal and represents the most viable option for a united opposition presidential ticket.
"Peter Obi is not the candidate of one camp. He is the candidate with the strongest record on the ballot, the broadest appeal across the regions, and the only campaign in 2023 that took Lagos from the man who claims to own it," she stated.
Yesufu stressed that supporting a single presidential candidate would not require opposition parties to dissolve their structures or abandon their political identities.
She explained that parties could retain their governors, senators, lawmakers and internal platforms while agreeing on a common presidential candidate and a shared governing agenda.
She also disclosed that a coordination platform had been established for party officials, organisers, fundraisers and strategists across opposition parties to facilitate collaboration without replacing their existing political structures.
Calling for greater cooperation among opposition leaders, Yesufu urged political stakeholders to prioritise national interest over partisan divisions.
She concluded by arguing that while the ruling party remains united, the opposition must build a stronger alliance founded on shared values, cooperation and a common objective of offering Nigerians an alternative government in 2027.
Her comments add to the growing conversation within Nigeria's opposition over the possibility of forming a broad coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.
Comments
Post a Comment