As part of the moves to oust President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress in 2019, the major opposition parties and third force elemen
As part of the moves to oust President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress in 2019, the major opposition parties and third force elements are expected to hold joint and separate talks in the coming days with a view to forging an alliance and supporting one presidential candidate. Some of the parties that will participate in the discussions include the Peoples Democratic Party, the Olusegun Obasanjo-backed African Democratic Congress, and the Chief Olu Falae-led Social Democratic Party among others.
Already, the Nigerian Intervention Movement, co-chaired by Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Dr. Abdujalil Tafawa-Balewa, is presently holding alliance talks with the Coalition for New Nigeria, a coalition of 35 political parties. The NIM said in a statement that it was holding separate and joint meetings with the Labour Party, United Progressive Party, Action Democratic Party, Action Alliance and several others.
The Obasanjo-led Coalition for Nigeria Movement had adopted the ADC as its party. The National Coordinator of the Obasanjo coalition, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, had told a gathering last week that there was still room for the ADC to forge alliance with other interested parties to oust Buhari in the next general elections.
Also, according to a source, “In the coming days, you will see defections and re-alignments as the main opposition begins to take shape.”
Asked why the parties were forging alliances instead of a merger like the APC did in 2013, the source explained that the time was too short, adding that it might not be able to contain the aftermath before the general elections.
“The Electoral Act states that no new political party will be registered six months to the general elections. That means August is the deadline. With the way politics is today, coupled with the fact that INEC serves an APC-led government, we may not be able to meet up. Also, the time is too short for all the political parties to agree. Who will step down for who? How will we conduct congresses in time? So, the alliance is the best bet,” the source said.
The source said talks were ongoing with the PDP as the former ruling party begins to consider the possibility of changing its name. He stated that the PDP was also interested in the alliance. He said the PDP had also approached the other parties for a possible alliance.
