The proposed coalition of opposition groups to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 has been characterized as unworkable and lacking in strategic direction by Adetokunbo Pearse, a head of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a previous contender for governor of Lagos.
Pearse, who is also the PDP National Presidential Campaign Council for 2023 member and the Convener of the Reset Lagos PDP, voiced his worries in an exclusive interview.
The idea was derided as a “wild goose chase,” but he acknowledged that the coalition’s intention was admirable because of what he called the ruling party’s weak governance.
According to Pearse, previous political partnerships have generally failed, citing Nigeria’s political history as support.
He referred to the 1960 alliance between the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC), led by then-President Nnamdi Azikiwe, and the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), led by then-Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, which disintegrated in two years.
“This failure led to another failed partnership between the NPC and the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), which is the breakaway faction of the Action Group (AG),” he said.
He asserts that the fabricated alliances fueled political instability, resulting in the 1966 military takeover that sparked the Nigeria-Biafra conflict and civil turmoil in the Western Region.
In addition, Pearse cited more contemporary instances, like the failed attempts to join the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) prior to the 2019 general elections.
He blamed their failure on internal strife, divisive rivalries, and a lack of cohesive leadership, all of which contributed to the opposition’s eventual weakness and the APC’s reelection.
He clarified that the mutual need between Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was the reason for the 2013 merger’s success.
While cautioning against putting “quantity over quality” in opposition tactics, Pearse maintained that bolstering the PDP’s current structure is the best strategy to defeat the APC in 2027 rather than forming a partnership.
According to him, Atiku would have doubled Tinubu’s vote total in 2023 if Peter Obi had not added LP as a third force, ensuring a PDP victory.
Instead of changing the party’s name, he insisted that the PDP concentrate on strengthening its current base of support, especially among Christian populations in the North and the South East.
Pearse said the PDP is still the only credible opposition party in Nigeria, with 12 governors, 38% of the Senate, 43% of the House of Representatives, and significant influence at the state and local government levels.
“To sum up, those Nigerians who want to protect their nation from the APC’s apocalyptic rule should assist the PDP in its 2027 attempt to remove Tinubu. He said that supporting a phony alliance will simply serve to keep the APC in power.
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He further claimed that the APC’s emphasis on internalizing PDP instability indicates that the ruling party views it as its primary opponent.
He questioned, “Why has the APC put so much effort into trying to undermine the PDP internally if it is not afraid of it?”
