Count me out of any coalition against President Tinubu, APC – Peter Obi

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has distanced himself from any alleged coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Obi made the clarification on Monday in Abuja during a brief interaction with the media on the sidelines of a two-day National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria. His statement comes amid reports that leaders from opposition parties, as well as the APC, have been engaged in discussions to form a coalition for the upcoming election.

Addressing the speculation, the former Anambra State governor emphasized that his political focus remains on addressing critical national issues, rather than engaging in coalition talks.

He stressed that politicians should prioritise efforts to eradicate poverty, improve public education and healthcare, and ensure the safety and security of Nigerians.

He said: “Well, for me, what is important is let’s discuss Nigeria. Whether we are going to do coalition… let’s talk about the future of the country, but often we abandon the country and what we need to do and talk about power grab.

“I’m not interested in any coalition for purpose of taking power. It is about discussing Nigeria. “How do we care about securing the Nigerians?

“How do we care about the common person in Nigeria? “How do we care about our children being in school? That is the most important thing for now.”

Obi called for a united effort to eliminate financial inducement in Nigerian politics, warning that such practices fuel corruption and undermine the integrity of the democratic process.

He explained that when politicians use stolen public funds to win elections, they not only gain power but also immunity from prosecution, perpetuating a cycle of theft and impunity. “We must stop this because it is driving the stealing of public money,” Obi stressed, highlighting the need for reforms to protect the nation’s resources.

In his keynote address at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Vice President of Ghana, also spoke on the theme of the event, “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity.” Dr. Bawumia, who was the presidential candidate for Ghana’s New Patriotic Party in the last election, warned that the degradation of state institutions posed a significant threat to democracy and good governance.

He said “Mr. Chairman, one of the most important determinants of a flourishing democracy is the quality of institutions; institutions capable of guaranteeing rights, including property rights, and checking wanton abuse of power.

“These institutions include the Independent Election Management bodies, the Judiciary, the Ombudsman, the Police, other law enforcement agencies, and many others…

“Celebrated Economists like Dani Rodrick, Daron Acemolgu, and others, have come to a firm conclusion that, when it comes to the determinants of growth, the quality of institutions towers above everything else.

“Unfortunately, whilst the culture of peacefully choosing leaders is being entrenched, these institutions are becoming weak and endangered. ”

The former presidential candidate equally expressed concern over growing poverty in the West African sub-region and by extension, the continent as a threat to democracy as he noted that the electorate are beginning to lose faith in representative government.

He said: “Mr. Chairman, one of the biggest threats to democracy today is what I call the Next Meal. Before I make my point, I need to reecho the words of one of Africa’s greatest sons, the distinguished Nelson Mandela, to wit, ‘As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.’

“Ladies and gentlemen, democracy must be a means to an end. The best democracy is the one that delivers public goods and services effectively and efficiently and creates opportunities for citizens whilst making conscious efforts to leave no one behind.

“For Sub-Saharan Africa, the data suggests that we do not have an option to do nothing. In 2024, the World Bank estimated that two-thirds of the world’s population in extreme poverty live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Back home, the World Bank’s 2024 review reveals that more than half of Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty.

“For Nigeria, and indeed much of Sub-Saharan Africa, our work is cut out for us. We need to take decisive actions to demonstrate that to govern is to advance the interest and welfare of the people.

“We need to reconfigure our economic systems, processes, and institutions in a manner that prioritizes the next meal for majority of our people. For far too long, the focus has been on ticking the boxes on democratic institutions much to the neglect of what those institutions have been able to produce for the ordinary citizen.

“The person who is unable to afford the next ‘Eba’ meal is unlikely to appreciate any data on democratic progress.

“Ladies and gentlemen, there is growing apprehension among the citizenry about the relevance and usefulness of government institutions, with many people losing faith in these institutions.

“This is concerning and portends a bleak future for democratic sustenance if we do not rise to the occasion, and quickly too.

“For our democracy to remain relevant and sustainable, actors need to ensure that citizens have confidence in the democratic system to address their needs and concerns, particularly basic needs, which I call the next meal principle.”

In his paper, ” Democracy in Nigeria: Challenges, Prospects and the 2027 Elections, ” Professor Jibrin Ibrahim bemoaned the absence of ideologically based parties, leaving an indifferent and confused electorate at the mercy of political platforms which he claimed are run by drug barons and warlords.

He said: ”The most serious threat is the way the party system has developed.

“The key characteristics is that parties don’t have members but barons, warlords who impose their interests. The political parties that we have had lost their identities in terms of their manifestoes and what they stand for.

“The moment people can’t identify what parties stand for, it becomes impossible to have democratic commitment.

“A situation where they ( political parties) have no commitment to ideals of democracy.

“The real outcome is increasing apathy. The people have lost the right to exercise power because it has been confiscated from them. That creates the crisis of apathy.

“We must revive the belief that it is possible for Nigerians to regain their political power through the ballot.”

In his goodwill message, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Alhaji Hakeem Baba Ahmed, called on those in positions of power to fulfill their responsibilities by prioritizing the interests of the people.

He emphasized that transparent governance, coupled with a genuine commitment to addressing the needs of citizens, is essential for safeguarding democracy and preventing the rise of military dictatorship.

He added, “There is a huge responsibility on the shoulders of elected leaders in Nigeria to market our democracy in terms of the quality of governance and their conduct and disposition towards the rule of law and respect for the welfare and security of citizens.

“Nigerian democracy must mean a lot more than asking Nigerians to line up every four years to elect leaders. It must mean, in practical terms, that leaders commit to the demands of elected leadership in very transparent manners, that mandates given to them to govern make them servants to interests of the people, custodians of their assets, and protectors of their interests.

“The best leaders are people who exercise power only only to promote interests of their people. These interests include making laws that are consistent with the economic welfare and security of the citizen; that the judiciary is free from interference and corruption; that institutions and structures of governance function with the highest standards of efficiency and integrity; that citizens’ voices are heard and respected not just during elections; and the basic rules of competition between parties and interests are respected.

“The challenge for leaders in democratic systems is to lead with the vision which identifies a path and destination that ultimately benefit the citizens, even where some have legitimate reservations, or have issues with them.

“I would like to assure Nigerians that our administration is acutely aware of many concerns over our direction and goals, particularly given the difficulties which some of our policies inevitably generate.”