The anti-Tinubu coalition spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that it remains committed to its 2027 goals, brushing aside recent political defections, including that of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Salihu Moh. Lukman said the governor’s move did not come as a surprise. “First, I think anybody who will say this is not unexpected, will only be deceiving himself,” he said. Lukman noted that the warning signs had been visible for some time, with talks already circulating about multiple governors planning to join the APC.
He described the situation in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as troubling, pointing out that the party is no longer the strong force it once was. “The party is clearly a shadow of its own self,” he said, while acknowledging that some committed leaders within the PDP still believe in reviving its lost glory.
Lukman recalled how the coalition had earlier accused some PDP governors of secretly supporting President Tinubu, a claim that gained traction following Oborevwori’s defection and similar moves from other PDP figures. He said the coalition sees these developments as part of the broader political game and not a reason to panic.
“On the side of the government and APC, they are jubilating. All that one can say is that look, the beauty of democracy is about competition,” he explained. According to him, the goal of forming the coalition is to give Nigerians a solid alternative come 2027.
Despite the changing political landscape, Lukman insisted that the coalition remains focused and is making significant progress. He mentioned that soon the public will be introduced to the coalition’s full structure and its strategy for contesting the 2027 elections.
He also encouraged PDP leaders to see these defections as an opportunity for self-reflection and internal reforms. “What are those old mistakes? The old mistake is that anything that will continue with the culture of imposition of candidates, and godfatherism. That is what PDP has produced in this country,” Lukman said.
He added that the coalition is not interested in building a new political movement that ignores the character and track record of politicians. He said anyone joining their ranks must have a clean political history and a genuine desire to fix Nigeria.
“We want to correct all the mistakes and shortcomings from the Buhari administration to the Asiwaju administration. And we want to restore the aspiration of Nigerians to produce a stronger and greater country,” he said.
