A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Salihu Lukman, has called for a fresh round of negotiations among opposition leaders, warning that judicial victories secured by the party would amount to little unless opposition figures put aside their personal ambitions and unite ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Lukman said he was not celebrating the Court of Appeal’s decision, which upheld the participation of the ADC and four other political parties in the 2027 electoral process.

“Let me be very honest with you. As a Nigerian, I’m not excited by all this development because, if you recall, as an advocate of the coalition and the unity of the opposition leaders, when we started about two years ago, the objectives were basically two: to get the opposition leaders united and to also build a party that can hold elected leaders accountable.”

He argued that while the legal victories cleared the way for the ADC to participate in the next general election, they did not address the deeper problems confronting the opposition.

“As it is today, no matter what comes out of the judicial process, we can have a party that can win the election, but I see us going back to 2023, repeating almost the same things that happened in 2023 and expecting a miracle to happen.”

Lukman said Nigerians remained trapped with an administration that lacked accountability while the opposition had failed to provide a united alternative.

“As a Nigerian, and I’m sure I’ll be speaking the minds of many Nigerians, we are all troubled by the fact that here we are, faced with an APC government and an elected leadership that is hardly accountable. By the day, by the hour, things keep getting worse.”

“The hope and expectation is that elections will produce competition on the basis of which better leadership can emerge. So far, as a nation, it seems we are not approaching that at all.”

He warned that the opposition risked repeating the mistakes of the last election.

“The 2027 election may end up with us mismanaging ourselves as an opposition. I have appeared on this programme several times and each time the issue has been raised about how we are going to reconcile the personal ambitions of individual leaders in the opposition. That appears to be the key issue.”

“We must ask ourselves: Is the personal ambition of leaders in the opposition far more important than the destiny of the country? Are they unable to make the personal sacrifices required to unite and rescue Nigeria?”

Lukman admitted his frustration with the current direction of opposition politics.

“Look, as a person, I don’t have any restraint. I want the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu defeated out of government in 2027. But the way we are going about it, I’m frustrated. I must be honest.”

He disclosed that consultations were already underway among like-minded politicians and stakeholders to pressure opposition leaders into renewed negotiations.

“We have begun consultations with many like-minded people, both within the opposition and beyond, to come up with an independent initiative because we have to challenge the opposition leadership. It’s either they unite or they stop wasting the time of Nigerians.”

“The same way the opposition contested the 2023 election, they now want to contest the 2027 election and expect different results. Let’s not deceive ourselves. Let’s not deceive Nigerians.”

“We are committed to starting a new round of engagement with the aim of forcing the opposition leadership to come back to the negotiation table and negotiate a deal that is not about their personal ambition. This country is bigger than all of them.”

Responding to questions about the ADC’s role in any future coalition, Lukman clarified that he was speaking in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the party.

“First, let me clarify. I’m not speaking here as an ADC member. In fact, about two weeks ago, out of frustration, I announced the suspension of my membership because we are facing a serious challenge.”

“Partisan affiliation will not get us out of this mess. Nigeria is bigger than the ADC. If we are to move forward and present a new template in 2027 that will inspire confidence among Nigerians, it is not about the ADC or any other party.”

He said whichever political party eventually produced the presidential candidate should emerge through an agreed and transparent process.

“If it is an ADC candidate that will be adopted, there has to be objective criteria that will convince everybody that it is the right way to go. If it is another party’s candidate, there also has to be objective criteria.”

Lukman lamented that personal ambitions had overtaken the original objectives of the coalition talks.

“When we started advocating for a coalition and opposition unity, the expectation was that political leaders would recognise the danger facing the country. But all that has now been subsumed by personal ambition.”

On the issue of alternative policy proposals, Lukman said substantial work had already been done but warned that policy documents alone would not solve Nigeria’s governance problems.

“There was a 50-member committee, which I had the privilege of serving as secretary, and we did very good work. I am aware there have been discussions about unveiling those policy proposals.”

“But the real issue is not making declarative statements about policy. The real issue is whether candidates, when elected, will be accountable enough to implement those policies. That is already weak.”

He said Nigerians were increasingly left with poor political choices.

“I cried out on Thursday that Nigerians are confronted with the choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. Yes, President Tinubu and the APC have, for all intents and purposes, messed things up, but the confidence with which we can say our own leaders are better is also weak.”

“We need to challenge ourselves. If 2027 is going to produce the kind of result that will begin to pull this country out of the mess we are in today, then we need a new round of negotiation.”

He argued that the ruling APC had benefited from the divisions within the opposition.

“Part of the arrogance and audacity of APC leaders and President Tinubu is also the weakness of the opposition. Although things are getting worse, they keep saying the government is achieving a lot when there is nothing to show.”

“I must confess, I am full of frustration, full of anger, but we need to pull ourselves together and begin to think of a pathway.”

Lukman also responded to comments suggesting that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition was the main obstacle to opposition unity.

“The solution to the problem facing the country is not about what you and I want. It is about how we humble ourselves to come up with the right skills and initiatives that will enable us achieve the right result.”

“The way I am feeling now, if you like, go deep into the Atlantic Ocean and find some aquatic creatures, so long as they will present better leadership, be accountable to citizens and have a listening ear, I will support them. If you like, go into the Sahara Desert and get some desert creatures.”

“It is not about what you and I want. It is about ensuring we break out of the current cycle of reproducing unaccountable leadership.”

Pressed further on the issue of zoning, Lukman insisted political negotiations rather than public declarations offered the best path forward.

“You don’t have the power to enforce that truth. As a politician who understands that these things need to be negotiated, I don’t think I will be helping the process by making declarations. We need to persuade people to get to that point.”

On the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Lukman said the situation underscored the dangers facing Nigeria’s democracy.

“We miss El-Rufai, no doubt about it. The challenge he is facing highlights the danger before us. If, while seeking re-election, the APC and President Tinubu can permit a situation where somebody is held in detention for more than five months, imagine what could happen after winning a second term.”

“That highlights the danger of the possibility of tyranny unfolding before us.”

He maintained that opposition leaders must urgently return to the negotiating table.

“The need now is to force a new initiative that will compel opposition leaders to come back and unite and present a better option to Nigerians.”

“I don’t want to discuss the 2027 election in a vacuum. That is why I liked the question about what difference we are offering. Those are the issues that must be placed on the opposition table so that when we come out with a united front, Nigerians will have confidence that we are serious.”

Lukman also questioned President Tinubu’s comments on the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The mere fact that President Tinubu is the one giving testimony about the neutrality of INEC highlights a problem. INEC should be the one proving to Nigerians that it is neutral. Neutrality is not something you go searching for. Everybody on the field can see whether an umpire is neutral or not.”

He further argued that Nigeria should gradually move away from the heavy deployment of security agencies during elections.

“We are yet to demilitarise our electoral process. Even our neighbours, such as Ghana, conduct elections almost like any normal civic activity.”

“Until we get to the point where elections become a civic responsibility that citizens exercise freely, whether it is the military or the police that is present, I don’t think we can celebrate our democracy.”

“As much as possible, if institutions are functioning properly, the role of the police and military should not require this level of physical presence.”

“I honestly hope that in our lifetime we will get to the point where elections become normal civic exercises without the military or police presence everywhere and without shutting down the entire country simply because citizens are voting.” (Arise News)

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