2027 Politics and the Brewing Merger of Opposition Parties By Kabir Akintayo
Just recently, a news report went viral about some major opposition parties forming an alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A statement credited to a Professor of Political economist, Pat Utomi, revealed that there is an ongoing discussion between the 2023 Presidential candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).
Utomi, using the platform of National Consultative Front (NCFront), admitted during an interview with Channels Television to have communicated with Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso on forming a merger ahead of 2027.
Even though, no party among the aforementioned has issued a statement to attest to a merger or forming alliance with other political parties, Atiku, around November last year, called on opposition parties to form a strong coalition in order to check mate the ruling party APC.
“We have all seen how the APC, is increasingly turning Nigeria into a dictatorship of one party. If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn”, Atiku said.
Reacting to the news of the proposed merger between the PDP, LP, and NNPP, the APC described the plan as ‘unmitigated delusion of grandeur’.
“As a serial promoter of mega parties that never materialize, Prof. Pat Utomi’s statement cannot be taken that seriously,” Felix Morka, the Publicity Secretary of the ruling party, said in a statement.
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Prior to the 2019 election, a group of young presidential aspirants including Prof. Moghalu, Dr. Thomas Wilson-Ikubese, Omoyele Sowore, Fela Durotoye, Adamu Garba, Ahmed Buhari and other young vibrant aspirants also made an attempt to form an alliance, that gave birth to the Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT).
But the PACT, arrangement could not produce much result as only few of the aspirants respected the outcome which produced Fela Durotoye as the flagbearer.
Other aspirants who failed to emerge went to contests under different parties.
The feasibility of a merger between opposition parties in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections will depend on various factors, including the political landscape, the willingness of parties to collaborate, and the ability to overcome differences. Successful mergers often require a common political agenda, shared values and effective leadership negotiation.
In this context, the possibility of LP, PDP, and NNPP working together is very slim. Prior to the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi and Kwankwaso had moved for alliance, but the issue of who becomes the presidential and vice presidential candidates foiled their anticipated formidable alliance.
But not too long ago, a merger between four major political parties upstaged a ruling party in the 2015 general elections.
After the merger of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) together with the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the New-PDP group of then four governors, a newly-formed APC with General Muhammadu Buhari, as its presidential candidate, defeated then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.
For history to repeat itself, the leading opposition parties and their presidential candidates in the 2023 polls, will have to choose between their personal ambitions or formation of a strong mega party worthy of challenging the ruling APC in 2027.
Additionally, the level of public support, the strength of individual parties and the commitment of leaders to work together will play a crucial role in ensuring the merger plan announced by Utomi works.
More importantly, internal party dynamics, ideological alignment and the ability to address potential conflicts are essential for a successful merger.
