2027: No coalition needed to defeat Tinubu, ADC boasts; Obi-Kwankwaso movt rejects merger

The NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, (BBC)

By Juliet Umeh & Henry Umoru

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has declared that it does not need a coalition of opposition parties to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, expressing confidence that Nigerians are ready for a change of government.

Read Also: 2027 Campaign: What we want to hear from candidates – Stakeholders

ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this on Arise TV while speaking on the opposition party’s preparedness for the 2027 election, saying the party had enough support among Nigerians to win the presidential contest.

Abdullahi said although discussions were ongoing among opposition parties on possible areas of cooperation, the ADC was not dependent on a coalition to achieve victory.

“We don’t need a coalition to win this election. The African Democratic Congress does not need a coalition to win this election,” he declared.

According to him, the coalition discussions were initially aimed at making the opposition’s task easier, but the ADC had developed sufficient political strength to prosecute the election independently.

“If we are able to build the kind of coalition that we started, maybe it will make our job easier, but we don’t need that coalition to win the election,” he said.

Abdullahi disclosed that opposition parties were still engaging one another on possible areas of cooperation, particularly in protecting votes during the election.

“We are still having conversations among ourselves, our opposition political parties, and there are different areas,” he said.

He explained that one of the areas under discussion was the development of a common mechanism for election monitoring and vote protection.

“If we are able to develop a common protocol for election monitoring and for policing our votes, that is major,” Abdullahi stated.

The ADC spokesperson also dismissed concerns about the political strength of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and its prominent campaign figures, arguing that political influence would not automatically translate into votes.

“The 2027 election will not be contested on the floor of the National Assembly. It is the people of Nigeria that will decide who they want to vote for,” he said.

Abdullahi expressed confidence in the ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, saying the party had sufficient time to mobilise Nigerians ahead of the election.

“We have the next six months to mobilise. We have the next six months to rally,” he said.

He described the election as a referendum on the Tinubu administration’s performance, adding that Nigerians would ultimately determine whether the government deserved another mandate.

“We are confident we will win this election because we have Nigerians behind us,” Abdullahi declared.

Meanwhile, the Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso tagged the OK Movement has resolved that

It shall remain an independent organisation and will not be merged into or absorbed by any external political body.

The OK Movement which is a political platform established to mobilise support for the joint ticket Peter Obi and Senator Kwankwaso has supporters drawn from the Obidient Movement, Kwankwasiyya, the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP and the African Democratic Congress, ADC 

According to the Movement, it shall not accept any consolidation imposed from outside as that would disrupt programmes already in motion, blur an identity their supporters recognise, and forfeit momentum that has been costly to build, stressing that independence does not mean isolation as the group would remain ready to coordinate closely with allied groups in pursuit of shared goals.

According to the Movement, it shall not accept any consolidation imposed from outside as that would disrupt programmes already in motion, blur an identity their supporters recognise, and forfeit momentum that has been costly to build, stressing that independence does not mean isolation as the group would remain ready to coordinate closely with allied groups in pursuit of shared goals.

Rising from its end of the National Leadership Summit of the OK Movement held in Abuja, the group affirme John Ughulu as founder and Director-General of the OK Movement, and respectfully declined any form of proposal for his replacement.

The Communique was signed on behalf of the Geopolitical Zonal Coordinators and the thirty-seven State Coordinators by the Convener, Barr. Oladipo Johnson; Prince Suleiman Abubakar, Deputy Director-General (North); Mrs. Oluwatoyin Lanihun, Deputy Director-General (South) and Saadatu Mohammed Sani, National Secretary.

The summit was attended by national leaders, coordinators, state coordinators, as well as local government and ward-level mobilisers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the OK Movement, their reasoning was practical rather than sentimental, saying that the Movement was built ward by ward, largely on the personal credibility of its founder with the volunteers who make up its ranks. 

The group further said that their loyalty is not to a title, but to the man who recruited, trained and stood with them. The strength of any political movement rests in its human structure on the ground, and that structure was assembled around his leadership and that Social media handles can be reassigned; the confidence of thousands of grassroots mobilisers cannot.

The Communique read, “The OK Movement convened a National Leadership Summit, bringing together our National Leaders, the six Geopolitical Zonal Coordinators, the thirty-seven State Coordinators, and Local Government and Ward-level mobilisers drawn from all thirty-six (36) states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. The OK Movement exists for one purpose: to organise ordinary Nigerians behind the vision of a better Nigeria.

“That commitment is not in question, and nothing in this communiqué should be read as diminishing it.

At the Summit, our National Congress convened in session and, after full deliberation, arrived at the following resolutions, reached unanimously and without dissent:

“On the Office of Director-General. The Summit affirms Mr. John Ughulu as founder and Director-General of the OK Movement, and respectfully declines any proposal for his replacement.

“Our reasoning is practical rather than sentimental. The Movement was built ward by ward, largely on the personal credibility of its founder with the volunteers who make up its ranks. Their loyalty is not to a title, but to the man who recruited, trained and stood with them. The strength of any political movement rests in its human structure on the ground, and that structure was assembled around his leadership. Social media handles can be reassigned; the confidence of thousands of grassroots mobilisers cannot.

“On Merger with any External Body. The Summit resolves that the OK Movement shall remain an independent organisation and shall not be merged into or absorbed by any external political body. Consolidation imposed from outside would disrupt programmes already in motion, blur an identity our supporters recognise, and forfeit momentum that has been costly to build. Independence does not mean isolation: we remain ready to coordinate closely with allied groups in pursuit of shared goals.

“On Reconciliation. In the spirit of unity, and mindful that division serves only our common opponents, the Summit resolved to extend a sincere invitation to Ms. Jacky Wayas to return to the Movement in her original office as Director for Strategic Implementation and Planning, working within the leadership of the Director-General. Her contributions are valued, and we would welcome her renewed participation.

“On the Office of Deputy Director-General (North)

Following the resignation of Amb. Muhammad Auwal Musa as Deputy Director-General (North), the Summit approved the appointment of Prince Suleiman Abubakar as the new Deputy Director-General (North). The Movement thanks Amb. Auwal Musa for his service and wishes him well, and welcomes Prince Suleiman Abubakar into the role.

On a Candid Assessment, the group said, “We owe the public honesty as well as respect, and so we must state plainly what our State, Local Government and Ward leaders have communicated to the Summit. Should the Director-General be removed, or the Movement’s independence set aside, they have indicated that they would not continue to operate under the resulting arrangement. We do not say this to apply pressure. We say it because Nigerians deserve an accurate picture of what would, and would not, remain available on the ground, and because we would rather resolve matters of this nature together now than see a capable structure dissolve avoidably.

On Visit to His Excellency, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the OK Movement said, “At the conclusion of the Summit, the National Leadership proceeded to the residence of His Excellency, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to formally intimate him of the unity of the Movement and the outcome of the Summit’s deliberations.

On Visit to the Advisory Council, the OK Movement said “The National Leadership further paid a collective visit to Alhaji Buba Galadima, Head of the Movement’s Advisory Council, who reaffirmed the importance of unity within the OK Movement. He encouraged the Movement to remain an independent support group and cautioned against any proposal to merge it into the NDC party, however such a proposal might be framed in the name of efficiency.

“We hold the vision of a better Nigeria in the highest esteem and remain fully committed to that cause. We ask only that the collective will of the grassroots, freely expressed, be respected.”