APC, PDP stalwarts involved in coalition to oust Tinubu – Utomi

The Leader of the National Consultative Front, Prof Pat Utomi, has outlined ongoing moves to crystallise a formidable coalition to defeat the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections described as serious business.

Utomi, one of the opposition movement leaders, said several discontented members of the APC and Peoples Democratic Party were keen on joining the coalition, apart from members of five other political parties.

Speaking with The PUNCH, Utomi said huge numbers of the APC, PDP and other political parties had expressed their willingness to embrace the coalition to save Nigeria from the brink.

He noted that several movements, and parties would join the coalition and form an alliance, though he noted that there were ongoing talks on the particular platform that would be adopted for the 2027 battle.

Utomi said, “This is serious business. Nigeria is on the brink at a time of a changing global order.

“The approach we now take is to focus on core influence groups within parties.

“In this regard, there are good people who subscribe to our values and development strategy in APC and PDP who have significant following and believe there is a better way and have reached out to us.

“The Social Democratic Party that you have referred to is a work in progress. About five other parties are going through similar processes.

“Also bear in mind that huge numbers are getting ready to leave the APC and PDP and have been reaching out. But the core must be firmly fixed.”

Asked how the coalition intends to take care of the various interests joining the coalition, Utomi said the driving force was self-sacrifice and forging a party leadership where decisions would be made collectively.

Utomi’s assertion comes on the back of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, along with some opposition leaders, announcing that a coalition is being formed with the aim to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Among those present at the event where Atiku announced the coalition were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who was represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal; former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; a former gubernatorial hopeful in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi; former Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr Salihu Lukman; Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, Chief Peter Ameh and Soni Monidafe, among others.

Speaking with The PUNCH, on Sunday, Utomi stressed that the coalition “aims to redeem the collapse of culture in Nigeria as well as showing by example how a disciplined political party acts.”

The NCFront has talked about the unveiling of a mega coalition in June, noting that opposition parties and discontented members of the ruling All Progressives Congress are intensifying behind-the-scenes consultations to form a formidable alliance against the current administration.

Discussions involve key stakeholders from the North and South, including opposition parties, APC defectors, and civil society groups.

The opposition figures said the northern stakeholders, in particular, are inclined towards a coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu, arguing that his administration’s policies had disproportionately affected their region.

Speaking further, Utomi said the coalition would be operating a government of national unity resolute to advance the common good in a democratic, transparent and people-centred atmosphere.

“It needs a national unity government focused on a developmental state focused on bringing progress to every nook and cranny of Nigeria, not egotists and narcissists looking for state capture to burnish bloated personal accounts around the world while their country slides into the economic abyss.

“Another point is that leadership of the new order must be collective. No more of the Buhari or “Baba sope” approach that got in the way of a collective good goal in the past iterations of rescue missions. Decisions must be made collectively. We will not be victims of groupthink anymore.

“A collective shadow team will be active shortly and, where necessary, we will turn to people power to reset the agenda of our country.

On the goals of the coalition, Utomi stressed, “It is to make democracy work for the people and to ensure a government with a people-centred focus accelerates constitutional reforms for a better working Nigeria.

“It also aims to redeem the collapse of culture in Nigeria as well as showing by example how a disciplined political party acts, especially in how more capable and values-driven people are recruited into public life.”

He added, “The change we deserve is about a core of people who are a self-sacrificing group focused on disciplined organization to move the apparatus of cooperation and state authority.

“It is also to advance the common good in an atmosphere of freedom that is democratic, transparent and people-centred because touts and criminals abound in many parties and will take money from those in power to simulate the appearance of crisis.”