Buba Galadima, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has said that former presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, will on Monday announce a new political platform after dumping the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Galadima stated this on Saturday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement in Abuja.

The announcement ends weeks of speculation over the political direction of the two former governors, particularly following recent Supreme Court rulings that shook opposition party structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Galadima used the occasion to put supporters on alert, warning that the declaration would trigger an immediate backlash from political opponents.

He said, “As from Monday, when our leaders declare on which platform they will run, I want to tell you that one of two things will happen. And I’m here to guide you on your response to what will happen.

“First, they will sponsor columnists. Two, they will deploy social media influencers to start attacking our candidates. For all of you who are on social media and those you with the mighty pen, you must be prepared to respond to anything they are going to say.

“Anything under the sun that they may say about our leaders that we know very well, people of integrity and honour, we must come to them with the ferociousness that is needed of an intelligent man.”

He urged supporters to hold their fire until provoked, drawing an analogy from the recent United States-Iran conflict.

“For all of you who are on social media and those with the mighty pen, you must be prepared to respond to anything they are going to say. I’m sorry to bring up something that is not on the table, but I’m doing it as an example. If you have been following the US and the Iran war, you will remember that the US and Israel attacked first, and Iran responded.

“The analogy I’m going to draw here is that don’t call anybody any name until they call our leaders names. Then we will respond with the greatest might of intellect in us. These are people who are living in their comfort zones, and they want to start a war. We will help them add kerosene. We are already lying flat on the floor. Are we afraid to fall? So over to them.”

Galadima also alleged a deliberate and phased campaign to suppress the opposition. He claimed security agencies had been used to malign and detain opposition leaders in the first phase, while the second involved dismantling their political platforms.

He listed the SDP, PDP, ADC, NDP and PRP among parties he said had been “decimated.”

He warned that the situation could worsen, alleging that desperate actors within the political establishment may escalate to targeting opposition figures directly. (Saturday Tribune)