A former National Vice Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has warned that the personal ambitions of key opposition figures could hand President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party an easy victory in the 2027 general elections if they fail to unite behind a common candidate.
Lukman, who has consistently advocated a united opposition front, urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi and other opposition leaders to set aside their individual ambitions and present a formidable alternative to the APC.
Speaking during an interview on the Arise News Morning Show on Friday, July 31, 2026, Lukman, now a founding member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), expressed concern that opposition parties were repeating the mistakes that weakened their chances in the 2023 elections.
He said legal victories, including the recent Court of Appeal judgment that nullified a Federal High Court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC and four other political parties, would mean little without genuine political unity.
“As it is today, no matter what comes out of the judicial process, we can have a party that can contest the election, but I see us repeating almost the same mistakes we made in 2023 and expecting a miracle,” Lukman said.
He lamented the current state of governance under the APC, arguing that the absence of a strong and united opposition had left Nigerians with limited political alternatives.
According to him, elections should produce healthy competition capable of delivering accountable leadership, but the opposition’s internal divisions threaten that objective.
Lukman challenged opposition leaders to place Nigeria’s future above their presidential ambitions.
“We must ask whether the personal ambitions of opposition leaders are more important than rescuing this country. They must be willing to make sacrifices so they can unite and confront this election together,” he said.
He admitted that he wanted the APC defeated in 2027 but expressed frustration over the opposition’s inability to build a united platform.
“I want the APC and President Tinubu voted out in 2027, but the way we are going about it is frustrating,” he added.
Lukman also disclosed that he had suspended his membership of the ADC about two weeks earlier to allow for broader political consultations aimed at rebuilding opposition unity.
According to him, partisan interests alone cannot solve Nigeria’s political challenges, insisting that the weakness of the opposition has emboldened the ruling party.
He revealed that consultations were ongoing among political stakeholders to persuade opposition leaders to return to the negotiating table and agree on a common strategy before the 2027 elections.
“The same way the opposition contested the 2023 election, they want to contest the 2027 election and expect a different outcome. This country is bigger than the ambitions of any individual,” he said.
On zoning, Lukman argued that competence, accountability and commitment to good governance should take precedence over regional considerations.
“Whether the candidate comes from the North or the South is not my concern. What matters is credible, accountable leadership that listens to the people,” he stated.
He also stressed that INEC must demonstrate its neutrality through its conduct rather than relying on endorsements from political officeholders.
According to Lukman, credible elections should be measured by public confidence in the electoral process, not official assurances.
Speaking later on Channels Television on the same day, Lukman warned that the 2027 election could become “more of a coronation than an election” if opposition parties remain divided.
He said Nigerians were already experiencing severe economic hardship and did not need opinion polls to understand the country’s situation.
“You don’t need a poll to know Nigerians are suffering. The reality is reflected in the daily lives of citizens,” he said.
Lukman blamed the opposition’s failure to unite for strengthening the APC, warning that continued division could increase voter apathy and weaken confidence in the electoral process.
Reflecting on his role in the formation of the APC in 2013, he said the party had drifted from its founding progressive ideals despite repeated appeals for reform.
He also criticised the implementation of key economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and exchange rate liberalisation, arguing that they were introduced without adequate measures to cushion their impact on ordinary Nigerians.
Lukman urged opposition leaders to negotiate, unite and present a single credible presidential candidate capable of offering Nigerians a genuine alternative in the 2027 elections.
“My appeal is simple. Opposition leaders must prove that they love Nigeria more than their personal ambitions. They should negotiate, unite and present one credible candidate Nigerians can rally behind in 2027,” he said.
