Kano—
Factional leaders of opposition parties have rejected the outcome of the recently concluded opposition parties summit in Ibadan,on Saturday,where a consensus to produce a single candidate was agreed.
A faction within the opposition African Democratic Congress,ADC, led by the interim National Chairman,Kingsley Ogga,has vehemently rejected the outcome of the meeting.
” I want to make it clear that our group was not part of that opposition summit, and we are not in support of the decisions, either. My group does not support that arrangement. Everybody should be free to find and present their own candidate” he said
The alliance aspect may sound good, but that is not what we are supposed to focus on now. Our priority should be to put the party in order because there is a crisis within the party, and that is what we should address first,” he added
Opposition factions reject bid for single presidential candidate
The Nafiu Bala Gombe led faction also denied being in support of the resolution reached in the summit.
In an interview with the Punch,on Sunday,the factional Chairman Chief of Staff t Bala Kumo, made their position clear noting that they are not in support of the single candidate bid.
“We are not in support of it (a single presidential candidate for the opposition) as the authentic members of the African Democratic Congress. So, whatever resolution was taken in that place, we are not in support of it” he said
“The ADC is an existing party. It wasn’t registered yesterday, the day before yesterday, last week or last month. ADC has been in existence for almost 20 years. We are fielding a candidate, and Inshallah, all the elective offices at all levels will support it” he added
Opposition factions reject bid for single presidential candidate
Also reacting to the issue,a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party PDD led my The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,Nyesom Wike has kicked against the summit noting that the opposition leaders including former Vice President Atiku Abubukar, former Senate President David Mark and former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,were misled by imposters.
The National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, in an interview with Punch on Sunday, criticised the Turaki-led faction who attended the summit.
“Certainly, our party cannot be part of that arrangement, not because we are not open to having alliances and understandings with opposition parties. We all belong to the opposition, and we all aim toward achieving one thing, which is taking over power from the APC. But the people who went there were not representing the PDP” he said
He further noted that opposition leaders should identify with the genuine and legally recognized PDP leaders.
Opposition factions reject bid for single presidential candidate
“Opposition political parties must ensure they interact with legitimate representatives. The individuals who attended in the PDP’s name are impostors, restricted by court order from acting as party leaders” he said
‘’For us, as the genuine leaders and leadership of the PDP, we distance ourselves completely from yesterday’s gathering, not because we are not open to having alliances, but because of the way and manner other opposition political parties aligned themselves with the wrong leadership” he added
The interim National Chairman of the Labour Party ,Nenadi Usman, has also disassociated the party from the summit in Ibadan where political leaders agreed to present a single presidential candidate in 2027.
“If you observe, you will discover that we are not part of those who went to the Ibadan Summit yesterday. As it stands today, we are focused on getting substantive leadership for the Labour Party in our next convention coming up next Tuesday, April 28″ he said
Opposition factions reject bid for single presidential candidate
“That is the position of the party for now. If there is a need for us in future to be in coalition with other political parties, we will inform Nigerians.”he added
In a statement issued,the Accord Party,via it’s National Secretary,Muhktar Abdallah,has also denied being involved in the summit, alleging that its name and symbol were used without consent.
“This is not an oversight; it is a misrepresentation. The Accord Party will not be dragged into alliances it neither negotiated nor approved. What played out in Ibadan raises serious questions about the credibility and transparency of the coalition itself, if it must lean on the identity of parties that are not even at the table” the statement reads
The statement reaffirmed the party’s commitments to preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a clear ambition to present a presidential candidate under its name.
Opposition factions reject bid for single presidential candidate
“Prof. Imumolen has therefore issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the conveners and participants of the Ibadan meeting to publicly explain how and why the Accord Party’s identity was used without consent. Failure to do so will trigger immediate legal action against all individuals” the statement added
APC mocks opposition summit.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has mocked the participants who attended Saturday’s opposition summit in Ibadan, describing them as lacking the capacity to advance democracy and good governance.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare,in Ibadan on Sunday,the Oyo APC said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of the APC were not moved by the summit dismissing claims of being disturbed by the meeting, noting that the gathering was an exercise in futility.
Mr Olawale argued that the opposition lacked the will and commitments to defeat the ruling All Progressive Congress.
Opposition factions reject bid for single presidential candidate
“They are merely wasting their time. It is impossible for them to catch up with a man who is far ahead in the political race,” the statement said.
It further called for probe into the comments made by Gov Seyi Makinde linked to “Operation Wetie” where he cautioned the Federal Government against suppressing the political wills of Nigerians.
“The polls will be hitch-free and credible while he (Makinde) would not find an avenue to escape from the country before May 29, 2027 so that he would be made to answer for the many cases of abuse of office and corruption hanging on his neck” the statement added
The opposition leaders had earlier held a summit in Ibadan on Saturday themed” That We May Work Together For A United Opposition To Sustain Our Democracy”, during the summit,the opposition leaders of the ADC, PDP, LP, AP and NNPP have agreed to support a single presidential candidate to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 elections.
Opposition factions reject bid for single presidential candidate
At the end of the summit, a communique, was issued and signed by the leaders Mark of the ADC; Tanimu Turaki (SAN) of the PDP, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed of the Peoples Redemption Party; Ajuji Ahmed of the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Cleopas Moses of the National Democratic Coalition; Uche Nnadi of the Action Peoples Party and Mgbudem Maxwell of Accord.
Other participants include Yusuf Dantalle of the Allied Peoples Movement, Adekunle Omoaje of the Action Alliance, Samuel Memeh, Abdulrahman Abubakar of the Young Progressives Party, Yabagi Sani of the Action Democratic Party, and Dan Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party.
Analysts and commentators have argued that the division and crisis rocking the opposition parties may pose a threat to their victory in the 2027 polls.
