Lukman: Party and Zoning Decisions Still Pending in Coalition to Unseat Tinubu
Salihu Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman for North-West of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a prominent leader in a coalition of political figures aiming to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, has revealed that negotiations are ongoing and no final decisions have been made yet about the movement.
In a statement on Monday, Lukman clarified that while there has been much speculation and debate following the announcement by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the coalition’s formation, the discussions are still in progress. Lukman emphasized that formal announcements regarding the coalition’s composition, objectives, and strategy for the 2027 elections would be made once all negotiations are concluded.
Lukman explained that consultations are well underway, focusing on reaching agreements with potential coalition members and addressing key issues. However, he pointed out that the contentious issues of zoning and the selection of a political party to represent the coalition are yet to be decided.
“At this stage of the negotiations, the primary focus is on getting the leaders to agree on working together,” Lukman noted. “There is a strong recognition among prospective members that personal ambitions must be set aside for the sake of the collective goal of contesting the 2027 elections. Another issue under discussion is the political party that will serve as the platform for this contest.”
Lukman emphasized that while some leaders have expressed strong interest in zoning, these matters have not yet been formally addressed in any of the consultations. He also refuted media reports suggesting that the coalition was facing internal conflicts over these issues, stating, “The consensus among leaders is that the final decision on candidate selection can only be made once we settle on the political party.”
He acknowledged that negotiating the choice of a political party has proven to be a difficult task. Lukman revealed that many groups within the coalition had attempted to register new political parties, only to face challenges from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He speculated that INEC may have made a decision to prevent the registration of new parties, which, according to him, is further complicated by crises within existing parties such as the PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP.
“This creates a situation where only the ruling APC remains the viable party for fielding candidates for the 2027 elections,” Lukman stated. “This is an unfortunate development during the tenure of a government that was supposed to promote democratic progress. It is deeply troubling that such challenges are happening under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, who has historically been a champion of Nigeria’s democracy.”
Lukman, who also served as the Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, reaffirmed that the coalition’s leaders are committed to providing the necessary leadership to “rescue Nigerian democracy.” He called on all Nigerians to recognize the urgency of the situation, urging them not to wait until 2027 to realize that the country is on the brink of a legal crisis.
“We believe that Nigerian democracy can still be saved, but this requires the creation of a political party that can ensure competitive elections,” Lukman said. “We respect the various interests and concerns raised by Nigerians, including those of political leaders who are potential members of this coalition. However, we must not allow personal ambitions to undermine our collective efforts to develop Nigeria’s democracy.”
Lukman expressed confidence that the coalition would succeed in its mission to defeat attempts to push Nigeria towards a one-party system. He assured the public that once the negotiations are concluded, Nigerians would be fully informed, and the movement towards the 2027 elections would begin in earnest.
“We will not allow Nigeria to slide into a one-party state. We are committed to completing the negotiations about the political party platform, and once that’s done, we’ll publicly announce the details. From there, the process of selecting candidates will begin, and it will be transparent and inclusive,” Lukman concluded.
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