NNPP Urges Opposition Leaders to Unite for Successful Coalition Ahead of 2027 Elections
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has expressed concerns about the viability of the planned coalition among opposition parties, warning that personal interests and egos must be set aside for it to succeed. Pastor Peter Olagookun, the State Chairman of NNPP in Ondo State, made this assertion in an interview with Star Reporters on Thursday.
Olagookun emphasized that a lack of unity among key players striving to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could thwart their political ambitions. He called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to relinquish his presidential aspirations for the 2027 general elections and instead endorse Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the NNPP as the coalition’s leader.
“Figures like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who are advocating for an opposition coalition, should persuade Atiku to step aside and support Kwankwaso. Together, they can identify a strong candidate from the South for the vice presidency,” Olagookun remarked, noting that this strategy could leave the ruling party vulnerable.
He cautioned that without an alignment of interests and cooperation among opposition leaders, the coalition is likely to crumble. “It will collapse like dust before the 2027 general election,” he said.
Olagookun asserted that opposition leaders must rally around Kwankwaso as a consensus candidate. He argued that should Atiku choose to step down, he would be remembered as a leader who prioritized national interests over personal ambition.
He championed Kwankwaso as a credible candidate who could spearhead the opposition’s efforts to secure victory in the upcoming elections. “Kwankwaso is the only man capable of defeating the ruling party and rescuing Nigeria from its current predicament. He commands genuine support and possesses well-structured political influence across both northern and southern regions, thanks to his Kwankwasiyya Movement,” Olagookun stated.
Additionally, he acknowledged Atiku’s contributions to nation-building and his mobilization of key opposition figures as essential steps toward preparing for the 2027 elections and working toward the betterment of the country.