Public affairs analyst and opposition political figure Salihu Lukman has called on Nigeria’s opposition parties to abandon their individual presidential ambitions and work towards presenting a single candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Lukman made the appeal in a statement issued over the weekend, warning that continued division among opposition parties could make it easier for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to retain power.
According to him, the major challenge facing the opposition is not simply the strength of the ruling party but the inability of opposition groups to coordinate their political efforts.
Lukman argued that opposition parties targeting similar voters could weaken one another if they enter the election separately.
He said Nigeria’s electoral history, as well as experiences from other countries, shows that fragmented opposition movements can inadvertently strengthen an incumbent government.
For the opposition to have a realistic opportunity of defeating Tinubu, Lukman believes political leaders must be prepared to put aside personal ambitions and negotiate a common platform.
He described cooperation as a strategic necessity rather than an optional political arrangement.
“Division is a choice. Cooperation must now become a strategy,” Lukman stated.
His comments come as several opposition groups continue discussions over possible cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Among the political parties and groups involved are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The opposition groups are expected to meet on Monday, August 31, as part of ongoing efforts to explore greater cooperation and develop a strategy for challenging the APC in the next presidential election.
The question of who could emerge as a consensus presidential candidate is expected to be one of the most difficult issues for the opposition to resolve.
While a united opposition could potentially consolidate votes, achieving such an arrangement would require major political compromises among party leaders, presidential hopefuls and their supporters.
Lukman’s intervention therefore adds to the growing calls for opposition leaders to prioritise collective strategy over individual political interests ahead of 2027.
With the next presidential election approaching, the ability of opposition parties to reach a common understanding could become one of the defining issues in Nigeria’s political landscape.
