A former national vice chairman for the North-West of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has emphasized that defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections will only be possible through an opposition political platform that fosters a strong and authentic relationship with Nigerians. In a statement released yesterday, Lukman argued that the task will not be easy, as many Nigerians remain disillusioned by the unmet promises of change made by the APC in 2015, which have led to widespread disappointment.<\/p>\n
According to Lukman, the campaign to “rescue” Nigeria must go beyond the superficial objective of merely defeating the APC and President Tinubu. Instead, it should be built upon a clearly defined vision aimed at moving the country forward. He acknowledged that political promises alone will no longer suffice, especially given the growing mistrust of politicians who often make similar promises of a better future but fail to deliver.<\/p>\n
“The feat of defeating President Tinubu in 2027 will not be easy, and it cannot be achieved by simply making promises similar to those made by the APC before 2015. Nigerians will find it hard to trust any politician who presents an empty vision, especially when they have already experienced disappointment after being promised change,\u201d Lukman said.<\/p>\n
The former APC chieftain stressed that the opposition needs to offer a substantive alternative, not just rhetoric. He explained that the first and most important vision should focus on the kind of political platform the opposition wants to create. Lukman questioned whether Nigerians are going to see another party emerge that, like existing ones, is solely focused on fielding candidates for elections without addressing the deeper issues plaguing Nigeria’s political system.<\/p>\n
“The question that must be asked is whether the opposition will create another party that only serves the purpose of producing candidates for elections, or if it will be something different. If we end up with another party that is weak, and indistinguishable from the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), or New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), then we are setting ourselves up for failure,” Lukman said.<\/p>\n
He warned that without addressing the systemic weaknesses that have characterized political parties in Nigeria, any new opposition party would likely follow the same path as its predecessors. This, he said, is a key factor in the crisis of Nigerian democracy, where political platforms often serve as mere vehicles for electoral contests rather than instruments for genuine governance and reform.<\/p>\n
“To truly challenge the status quo, opposition political leaders must demonstrate a stronger commitment to breaking away from these destructive practices that reduce political parties to mere election platforms. This mindset, where parties are only active during elections and go dormant afterward, is at the root of the crisis in Nigerian democracy. The opposition must focus on being a real alternative, not just another surrogate,\u201d Lukman added.<\/p>\n
Expanding on his argument, Lukman highlighted the importance of building a political platform that prioritizes the needs of the people, rather than the ambitions of politicians. He called on opposition leaders to look beyond short-term electoral gains and instead work towards establishing a vision that addresses the country’s fundamental challenges, including poverty, corruption, insecurity, and poor governance.<\/p>\n
In his view, the current state of Nigerian politics has created a situation where political parties are focused primarily on winning elections, with little to no concern for what happens afterward. This, Lukman argued, is why political parties tend to lose touch with the citizens and why their promises often go unfulfilled. For him, any opposition party hoping to unseat Tinubu in 2027 must be ready to break from this cycle.<\/p>\n
“Political parties in Nigeria have become platforms for power brokers, not tools for nation-building. Until the opposition demonstrates a genuine break from this destructive pattern, they will continue to lose the trust of Nigerians. The goal should be to develop a political platform that genuinely serves the interests of the people and offers lasting solutions to the country’s challenges,” he said.<\/p>\n
Lukman also called on Nigerians to hold opposition leaders accountable, urging citizens to demand more from political parties and not to settle for empty promises. He noted that unless the electorate becomes more engaged and demands accountability from those vying for office, the country will continue to be plagued by ineffective governance and weak opposition.<\/p>\n
“At the end of the day, the Nigerian people must also play their part. It is not enough to support an opposition candidate just because they are against the current administration. Voters need to ensure that the candidates they support are offering real, practical solutions to the problems we face, and they must hold these politicians accountable,” Lukman concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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