Former presidential candidate and political activist, Chief Martin Onovo, has declared that defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections would be nearly impossible without a strong and united opposition front.
Onovo, who contested the 2015 presidential election under the now-defunct National Conscience Party (NCP), made this assertion during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
According to him, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) can only be unseated through a strategic and well-coordinated coalition of opposition parties. He described recent efforts led by former PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and other like-minded politicians to form such a coalition as a move in the right direction.
“I was the brain behind the largest coalition ever in the Fourth Republic — the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) — and I can tell you that coalition is the only way because a united minority is stronger than a divided majority,” Onovo said.
He expressed confidence that a properly managed opposition alliance could secure a landslide victory against the APC in 2027.
“The coalition will win the 2027 election with 99 per cent of the votes if it is not self-sabotaged. Take it to the bank — it will succeed and convincingly defeat the ruling party if done right,” he added.
Onovo, who also serves as the Head of Policy Positions for the Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), emphasized that internal sabotage is the greatest threat to any coalition effort.
Speaking on the performance of President Tinubu’s administration at the midpoint of its first term, Onovo criticized the government’s handling of key national issues, particularly insecurity and the provision of basic needs.
He urged President Tinubu to use the remaining years of his tenure to make meaningful progress in improving national security and the welfare of citizens.
“The president needs to be clear about his objectives. He should be all out to better the welfare and security of ordinary Nigerians, both in the cities and remote areas,” he said.
Onovo also called on the president to restructure his cabinet by appointing more technocrats and competent professionals rather than relying solely on political loyalists.
“We must not sacrifice performance for loyalty. Let’s get the right people, right strategies, and create an ethical environment. The president must provide leadership and take full responsibility,” he stated.
He further stressed the importance of fighting corruption more vigorously and addressing the country’s widening inequality, which he said fuels insecurity and social unrest.
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