Former Kano State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Ibrahim Shekarau, has stressed that only a coalition anchored by political parties, rather than individual politicians, can successfully challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Shekarau made the call while speaking with journalists, urging opposition parties to unite and strengthen existing platforms if they hope to achieve electoral victory. He pointed to his personal experience in 2011, when he and other political figures attempted to form an alliance to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.
His remarks come amid discussions about some politicians aligning under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to oppose the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle.
Shekarau clarified that he never claimed unseating the APC was impossible, but maintained that any coalition built on the ambitions of individuals rather than the structures of established political parties would not be viable.
“Some people misunderstood my statement. For clarity, I did not say the coalition could not defeat Tinubu in 2027. What I said was that a coalition of ‘individuals’ rather than parties could not,” he explained.
Citing past political history, Shekarau recalled the 2011 attempt by the now-defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form a coalition. He said the talks involved parties that had elected governments, legislators, and strong grassroots support.
“I was a principal actor in the 2011 attempted coalition as the ANPP presidential candidate. We had several meetings at President Tinubu’s residence in Abuja that year. At one point, the late Muhammadu Buhari, Nuhu Ribadu, and I, as presidential candidates of CPC, ACN, and ANPP respectively, met at Buhari’s residence to discuss further. But it did not work, so we each contested separately under our respective parties,” he recounted.
According to Shekarau, the failed 2011 alliance offered valuable lessons, which later paved the way for the successful 2015 merger between CPC, ACN, and ANPP.
“This time, we approached it differently. We pursued the process not as individual aspirants but as representatives of our political parties. Each party set up a 21-member committee, and I had the privilege of leading the ANPP team,” he said.
He noted that the ACN’s committee was chaired by High Chief Tom Ikimi, while Alhaji Garba Gadi led the CPC committee, with serving and former governors of the three parties also part of the negotiation teams.
