A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s political influence is indirectly pushing opposition leaders, including Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, into working together ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Momodu made the claim during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, insisting that the emerging unity among opposition figures is not driven by long-term ideological alignment but by pressure from the ruling party’s dominance.
“Tinubu forced all of them together. And that is why they all moved in one direction. Which would have been beautiful, because it would have been like a two-party race,” he said.
The Ovation International publisher spoke while reacting to recent political realignments involving Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, and Kwankwaso, former New Nigeria People’s Party flagbearer, both of whom have been linked to the Nigeria Democratic Congress following internal disputes within their former coalition structures.
Their movements have sparked renewed discussions about a possible joint ticket between the two opposition figures in the 2027 presidential race.
Momodu, however, cautioned against assumptions that past electoral performances would automatically translate into future outcomes, arguing that the political landscape has significantly changed since 2023.
“Are you saying that Tinubu will retain all the 8 million plus people that voted for him last time? What is the guarantee that Obi and Kwankwaso are the only people who will retain all those who voted for them? The situation has changed,” he said.
He further suggested that if elections are conducted transparently, the President’s vote tally could drop significantly.
“If Tinubu allows a free and fair election, he might not even get 3 million votes,” Momodu added.
Citing past electoral outcomes, he referenced the inability of some influential political blocs, including the G5 governors, to secure senatorial victories in their strongholds as evidence of shifting voter behaviour.
On coalition politics, Momodu said the ADC remains open to collaboration but warned against political pressure or the belief that any single individual determines electoral success.
“Those who want to join should join. Those who do not want to join, you cannot succumb to blackmail that only one man can make us win,” he said.
He also recalled that the 2019 alliance between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi did not secure victory, while separate candidacies in 2023 also failed to unseat the ruling party.
Momodu advised political actors to remain strategic and calm, quoting his late mother’s words: “Stop running from whatever is chasing you, because you might run into what is chasing you.”
He concluded by encouraging Obi to continue testing his political strength independently, stressing that no aspirant should be forced out of the race based on assumptions or political narratives.
ADEOLA KUNLE
No comments:
Post a Comment