2027: Opposition Members Intensify Merger Calls, As LP Insists No Automatic Ticket for Obi

In the lead-up to the 2027 elections, opposition members are pushing for a merger, while the Labour Party (LP) clarifies that there will be no automatic ticket for Peter Obi, signaling internal dynamics and election strategy shifts.

Some advocates for change, seeking the removal of President Bola Tinubu in 2027, have insisted that a strong alliance among the major opposition political parties in the country is necessary to oust the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This came after recent statements by Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, his counterpart from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), indicating that rumors about merger talks between major parties were false.

It has been reported that Kwankwaso, Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party have purportedly decided to form an alliance against the ruling party in preparation for 2027.

The report mentioned that Kwankwaso agreed to a plan where he and Atiku would each serve as Nigerian president for four years, while Peter Obi would hold the position for eight years.

However, in an interview with BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso refuted the alleged agreement, stating that occurrences during previous elections should prompt some leaders to avoid involvement in candidate selection.

He believes that certain northerners, who have declared themselves as the leaders of the north, should let people choose their preferred candidate for President.

Additionally, Obi clarified at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday that there is no merger agreement between him and any opposition figure.

The former governor, however, called upon all patriotic Nigerians, particularly those in opposition parties, to unite for the purpose of ousting President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027.

According to a PDP leader, defeating the APC is impossible for any single opposition party unless they unite.

Inspired by the remarks, Mathias Adache, a chieftain of the PDP in Benue South who spoke on Saturday, emphasized that achieving the much-anticipated change in government would require a strong alliance among the three main opposition parties.

He believes that if the PDP and Labour Party don’t unite, they stand no chance of defeating Tinubu in 2027. He noted that their individual attempts in 2023 were unsuccessful, questioning what different approach could lead to success for them in 2027.

“There is strength in unity; only by coming together against our shared adversaries can we hope to overcome this chaos.”

The issue with some of our politicians is their greed. Rather than prioritizing the nation’s interests, they are driven by personal gain and selfish motives.

Someone of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s stature should reconsider running for presidency in this country if he truly prioritizes the nation’s interests. Instead, I anticipated that he would unite and lead the opposition parties.

Don’t be surprised if you hear claims that the ruling party is causing the confusion we’re experiencing. Otherwise, how hard would it really be for people to unite and remove the APC from power?

The reality is that the APC understands their term will come to an end once these opposition figures reach an agreement.

They understand this since it was the same strategy that brought them to power in 2015. Without forming an alliance with other parties, what was then known as ACN alone could not have unseated former President Jonathan.

“Their biggest fear is a potential alliance between PDP, LP, and NNPP. However, they are willing to spend billions to ensure it doesn’t occur.”

Ternenge stated that Tinubu’s victory in 2023 was due to the disunity among opposition parties.

Henry Ternenge, a leader within the Labour Party, stated that the fragmentation among opposition parties led to the rise of the current government in 2023.

He believes that the opposition will consistently face challenges in elections as long as we maintain a multi-party system.

Regardless of any manipulation, this illegitimate government would not have come to power in 2023 if there had been only one opposition party.

In the 2023 election, Atiku received over 6.9 million votes, Peter Obi garnered 6.1 million votes, and Kwankwaso obtained 1.4 million votes; ultimately, Tinubu emerged as the winner with 8.7 million votes.

This indicates that Tinubu did not secure the majority of votes. When you combine the votes for Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso, they total over 14 million.

This indicates that 14 million people voted against Tinubu, compared to just 8 million who supported him.

He managed to win due to the division of the 14 million votes. Had it been a two-party system like in the US and some other countries, Tinubu would not have secured victory in that election.

I anticipated that by this time, these opposition figures would have joined forces and begun strategizing to unseat the APC, but they are still not prepared.

I came across a statement from the ruling party claiming that no amount of magic could cause Tinubu to lose the 2027 election. They believe this because they know these groups cannot unite effectively.

LP insists: Peter Obi will not receive an automatic ticket.

In the meantime, the Labour Party has asserted that former Anambra governor Peter Obi will not receive an automatic nomination.

Obi became the party’s flagbearer in 2023 after leaving the main opposition party, PDP.

This time, the party is emphasizing that the presidential, governorship, and other positions are all open for competition.

During a conversation on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, stated that “No political party grants automatic tickets; all positions are open for competition.”