2027: Ex-presidential candidates can’t speak for parties in coalition talks – NNPP founder

Dr Boniface Aniebonam, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has said that ongoing coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general elections cannot be validly undertaken by former presidential candidates without the involvement of party leadership. Aniebonam, reacting to reported merger negotiations spearheaded by major contenders in […]

Dr Boniface Aniebonam, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has said that ongoing coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general elections cannot be validly undertaken by former presidential candidates without the involvement of party leadership.

Aniebonam, reacting to reported merger negotiations spearheaded by major contenders in the 2023 presidential election, stated that such efforts are flawed and unlikely to succeed.

“We do not have individual candidacy in Nigeria. All presidential candidates emerge from political parties, and it is the parties that determine who their flag bearers will be,” he said.

“The ongoing meetings and negotiations cannot be meaningful if the leadership of the political parties involved is not carried along. Members and leaders of the parties are the true owners of these parties, and it is wrong to assume that they will automatically support any coalition formed without their consent.”

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He argued that the discussions by former candidates are speculative, as there is no guarantee they will secure their party’s ticket for the 2027 elections.

He stressed that once the 2023 election cycle and all post-election litigations were concluded by the Supreme Court, former presidential candidates ceased to be de facto leaders of their parties.

“It is surprising that many of the 2023 presidential candidates still carry themselves as party leaders. The only exception is President Bola Tinubu, who won the election and remains the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

Aniebonam warned that none of the losing candidates has the authority to commit any political party to a coalition.

“They may choose to form a coalition as individuals or non-registered organisations, or seek out platforms willing to accommodate them, but they cannot speak for their parties,” he said. (NAN)

The NNPP founder, however, added that his party might consider a technical alliance with like-minded political parties ahead of 2027 if the need arises.(NAN)