Salihu Lukman, a former All Progressives Congress official and current African Democratic Congress leader, has cautioned that the 2027 general elections risk becoming a mere formality rather than a competitive contest. Speaking on Channels Television, Lukman emphasized that the ruling party currently holds an unfair advantage solely because the various opposition factions remain fractured.
Lukman argued that the widespread economic hardship across Nigeria speaks for itself, rendering formal opinion polls unnecessary to judge the current administration’s performance. He noted that the daily struggle of citizens to afford basic needs highlights the severity of the situation. Despite nearly two years of internal discussions aimed at creating a unified opposition coalition, he expressed disappointment that these efforts have yielded no tangible progress.
The veteran politician noted that the governing party’s current posture of confidence is a direct result of the opposition’s inability to organize. He warned that continued disunity will likely fuel voter apathy, potentially making the democratic process susceptible to manipulation. Reflecting on the founding of the APC in 2013, Lukman lamented that the party has abandoned its original progressive goals, failing to implement reforms that adequately protect the vulnerable from the fallout of subsidy removal and currency devaluation.
Ultimately, Lukman called on opposition leaders to prioritize the national interest over their individual political goals. He urged them to work together to field a single, viable candidate, providing Nigerians with a legitimate alternative to the current leadership.
