A former Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman, has stated that a framework is being established to ensure that the opposition presents a single candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 elections.
He emphasized that opposition parties need to recognize that their battle is not with one another but with the APC and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
In an interview with Arise News, Lukman, who previously held a prominent position within the APC, said a proposal had been put forward for the consideration of opposition leaders.
He added that the objective was to create a structure that would allow them to function as a cohesive unit, enabling them to present a united front to the Nigerian electorate by the time of the 2027 elections.
He said, “The ultimate objective is that we want to have one candidate, but it cannot be by declaration. They have to sit down and agree on the criteria they are going to apply in determining that candidate. They will agree among themselves.
“Nobody will dictate it to them, which is why, if you put the question to the supporters of each of the candidates, again, you are not being fair to the candidates, because, at the end of the day, it is the quality of the relationship.
“We have posed the question to them, and, for emphasis, let me remind you of the question we have posed to them. At the end of the day, there will only be one president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The question they need to answer themselves is: Do they just want to be candidates, or do they want to win the election to become president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
“I mean, answering that question will require that they also agree that there are certain conditions they must meet to be able to win the election. That is the point we are now trying to push them to understand, and all of them understand it.
“They have to work together, and the primary opponent is the APC and President Bola Tinubu. So, when you now begin to pose the question as if the primary opponent is either former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or former Governor Peter Obi, you get it wrong.
“As far as we are concerned, we are putting forward a structure, and we are putting a proposal to them to consider, which will lead to the formation of that structure that will enable them to work as a united body, on the basis of which, by the 2027 election, they will present Nigerians with a united front.
“Look, the bottom line, and let me say it for emphasis, is that we believe Nigerians deserve better.
“We believe that the 2027 election should present a credible option for Nigeria in such a way that Nigerians can have confidence to queue behind that candidate, vote for that candidate, and vote out the APC and President Bola Tinubu. I think there is no debate about that.”
2027: We’re working to unite Peter Obi, Atiku, others – Lukman