Media aide to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, Umar Ibrahim, has declared that his principal and the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, are open to forming an alliance against the administration of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naija News reports that Ibrahim made this known during an interview with Punch.
He noted that Peter Obi is committed to a better Nigeria and would be willing to collaborate with anyone who shared his vision, as long as their desire was not state capture.
He said, “This dedication stems from his unshakeable optimism in the country’s potential and his focus on the welfare and prosperity of all citizens. Regarding Paul Ibe’s statement about Atiku’s willingness to unite with Obi, it’s clear that both leaders are open to working together to save Nigeria from the APC-led administration’s tyranny.
“However, Obi’s commitment to collaboration isn’t limited to any particular individual or party.”
Also, the National Secretary, to the opposition political parties in Nigeria under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties and the Social Democratic Party (CUPP), Peter Ahmeh, in an interview with the publication mentioned above, said the country needed more than a coalition between Atiku and Peter Obi.
Ahmeh acknowledged that a coalition could aid opposition parties in defeating the APC and must focus on ensuring free and fair elections.
He said, “Our country has its ways. Atiku is a wonderful leader in Nigeria. That is very important. But the fact is there will be some sentiments that will come into play if you don’t put a person from southern Nigeria on the ballot. If you don’t do that, the idea that the northerners have taken over their eight years will now become part of the discussion across southwestern, southeastern, and South-South Nigeria.
“So, what we should do is believe that at the end of the day, these two leaders and other leaders will find common ground, where they will put the interest of Nigeria before their personal interests, allowing us to win this election and determine the future of Nigeria in a way that will benefit all Nigerians.
“Yes, a coalition can help the opposition party defeat the APC. There’s no doubt about that. It will also facilitate the easy defeat of the APC.
“But the most important coalition we need at this moment is one that ensures elections are free and fair. Because if we do that, even when people form a coalition, we still face the problem of draconian leadership that can cause glitches in the server, or manipulate election results without proper authority behind it. The solution is that our elections should be decided by the polling unit.
“The Republic of Ghana has shown this. If you look at the commission chairperson, votes are cast at the polling unit, votes are recorded at the polling unit, and winners are announced at the polling unit. We should do away with these coalition centres, which are fraudulent centres for the manipulation of results.
“We still believe that when the people are determined and stay true to their convictions, the electorate will go to the polling unit and make their decision. But a coalition will only facilitate and make it easier for the opposition to reach the Presidency.”
Similarly, the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, stated that a coalition may not be the right solution now, stressing that political parties had struggled to unite over a long period, resulting in a trust deficit that affected most parties.
He stated, “The coalition will not do much right now. The decay is extremely bad, and the loss of gravity in the political space is another point of concern. What people are looking forward to is the assembly of credible individuals to form a rescue movement that is credible and has a solid base; this has nothing to do with the coalition of political parties.
“The parties, over a long period of time, could not galvanise themselves. The trust deficit has enveloped the various political parties, apart from a few. Even if you merge all the parties, the roles of individuals who are good, credible, and have been tested will draw people, not the roles of the political parties.
“There is a trust deficit, and this may lead to a crisis among various political parties. What the people are looking for are individuals who have a record of service and the ability to be creative.
“All I know is that every hand is needed to be on board to salvage the situation. We are talking about salvaging Nigeria. And the knowledge required to do that is not domiciled in a single individual. We have a multitude of talents in the country, with the energy and capacity to turn things around for good; it’s just that they have not been organised.
In addition, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Sly Ezeokenwa, while briefing journalists in Abuja, expressed his readiness to form an alliance with other progressive political forces across party lines to build Nigeria
He said, “APGA proudly has elected representatives within and outside the South East. We are ready and willing to work with all other progressives to build Nigeria because we believe in our country.
“As part of our commitment to reconciliation, we have granted amnesty to party members who are genuinely repentant, irrespective of which side they supported during the crisis.”