With the official birth of the opposition coalition spearheaded by the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, there are permutations over how the movement would transform into a force within the next one year.
The coalition came to limelight at a time when Nigeria is experiencing a gale of defections to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as part of efforts to ensure Tinubu returns to power in 2027.
Amid the defections, the coalition has been able to pull together other bigwigs like Atiku, Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, among others.
During its meeting in Abuja under the aegis of National Political Consultative Group (NPCG) North, the coalition brought together imminent Nigerians like Obi, Amaechi, former Kogi State governor, Captain Idris Wada, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Others were a former Senate president and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; the Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed; a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali; a former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; a former All Progressives Congress’ national vice chairman (North), Salihu Lukman; Senator Ben Obi and a former Minister of Youth Development, Bolaji Abdullahi.
The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Ralph Okey Nwosu, hinted that discussions over the choice of the party as the vehicle for the coalition will be concluded in the next one or two weeks.
Nwosu said various committees set up by the party have met with those involved in the talks.
Frowning at Obi’s involvement, the Labour Party, LP, described the coalition project as an affront to its leadership.
Obiorah Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, said the party is confused as to Obi’s stance regarding the platform he wants to use for the 2027 election.
