Salihu Lukman, the former Vice-Chair of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North-West, has expressed concerns that the “unserious disposition” of opposition political parties may prevent Nigerians from replacing Chief Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In a statement released on Monday, Lukman criticized the opposition for failing to mobilize effectively, despite what he described as the “deteriorating” situation in the country.
He noted that discussions around a potential change in leadership have been isolated and have not yet evolved into organized political efforts.
Lukman singled out key opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), accusing them of being preoccupied with internal disputes and personal ambitions rather than focusing on a united front to challenge Tinubu.
He stated, “It has become necessary to draw the attention of opposition political leaders in the country that the current care-free or unserious disposition could produce the disastrous outcome whereby Nigerians may be unable to change the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
“Opposition political leaders are being used loosely to refer mainly to Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leaders of PDP, LP, NNPP and all the stranded APC leaders who are being deliberately, arrogantly and absurdly rendered idle by Asiwaju Tinubu.
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“It is quite appalling, for instance, that PDP leaders are antagonistic to Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi is in the midst of a helpless survival leadership battle in LP and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is oversighting a directionless NNPP whose roof is being torn apart by none other than its own so-called leaders.
“And all the other parties, including SDP and PRP have adopted a monarchic behaviour, sitting in their comfort zones waiting for disgruntled and aggrieved opposition political leaders to come to them for some ‘royal’ covers.
“Perhaps, it could also be a case of waiting to harvest good political businesses through dealmaking in 2027, which is the standard political practice in Nigeria since the commencement of the current Fourth Republic.”
“Part of the reality is that opposition political leaders in the country are stuck to old political ambitions and, to that extent, therefore, only strategising to manipulate their emergence as candidates for election in 2027.
“This has become the singular determining factor for political consultations in the country.
“Consequently, there is almost zero trust among opposition political leaders, which has become a thick barrier to political consultations in the country,” he added.
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