To match words with action, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has commenced consultations with stakeholders from other opposition political parties for a possible merger to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress in 2027.

The media aide to the ex-VP, Paul Ibe, disclosed this to our correspondent on Tuesday.

But, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, described Atiku’s latest move as an effort in futility, boasting that the ruling APC would deliver its Renewed Hope promises so well that Nigerians would choose the party again in 2027.

Atiku first broached the idea of the merger of opposition parties to displace the APC from power in 2027, shortly after the Supreme Court affirmed President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.

The 77-year-old Atiku hinted that he was not retiring from politics and pledged his readiness to continue to shape the democratic discourse.

“As for me and my party, this phase of our work is done. However, I am not going away. For as long as I breathe, I will continue to struggle with other Nigerians to deepen our democracy and the rule of law and for the kind of political and economic restructuring, the country needs to reach its true potential,” he had said.

Recently, Prof. Pat Utomi-led National Consultative Front said it was working to coordinate the merger of opposition parties to confront the APC in the next presidential poll.

Also, recently, Atiku, in a congratulatory message to governors of the opposition parties whose elections were upheld by the Supreme Court last Friday, reiterated the idea of a merger and expressed willingness to lead a coalition of opposition parties to oust the ruling APC come 2027.

Speaking to our correspondent on Tuesday, his media aide, Ibe, said the merger conversation had begun, stressing that Atiku viewed a formidable coalition as the most viable option to wrest power from the APC.

Ibe said “The major bulk of the coalition of the opposition political parties will be done behind closed doors; it will not be done in the open. I can assure you that Atiku has started the process. The process is on, I can assure you of that. The principal partners and stakeholders in this coalition are already talking among themselves. So it is ongoing.”

He said Atiku’s analysis was that the disunity of the opposition parties gave the APC victory in the last presidential poll.

“And that if they harmonised their strength, they would be very formidable. This is important because Nigeria is at a crossroads. From one rumbling APC administration to another, nothing has changed. People are suffering, the economy is in shambles, and insecurity is at its peak.

“So, Atiku recognises how important it is for the opposition to come together and form a formidable front against the APC.

“And as I told you, that process has commenced. That coalition of opposition political parties will happen; that is inevitable. So, there will be formidable opposition that will salvage this country. So you can be assured that His Excellency is talking to principal partners about this.”
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