Paul Ibe, spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has emphasised the importance of an alliance between Atiku and Labour Party leader Peter Obi to dislodge the “incompetent and clueless” All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, Ibe remarked on the lessons learned from the 2023 presidential election, where Atiku and Obi collectively garnered over 12 million votes but failed to unseat APC’s Bola Tinubu, who won with over eight million votes.
Obi, a former ally of Atiku and a defector from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had split the opposition’s votes by running under the Labour Party, a move analysts say undermined the PDP’s chances of reclaiming power.
Lessons from 2023
Ibe noted that the two opposition leaders have recognised the consequences of their divided efforts in 2023 and are now committed to preventing a repeat of the same mistake.
“Nigeria is at a crossroads,” Ibe said, citing soaring inflation, a worsening cost-of-living crisis, and declining economic conditions. “Nigerians deserve better than what they are getting. It’s never been this bad, and there is no hope.”
Synergy in Politics
Commenting on recent public meetings between Atiku and Obi, Ibe stressed that collaboration is the future of effective opposition.
“Atiku Abubakar has always championed unity among opposition parties,” Ibe stated. “The only way to kick out this incompetent government is for opposition forces to come together. Discussions are ongoing, and lessons from 2023 have informed this strategy.”
While Ibe reaffirmed Atiku’s commitment to exploring “all options” for the 2027 election, he declined to comment on whether Atiku would step aside for Obi to lead a united opposition.
“The focus now is on fostering unity and ensuring the mistakes of the past are not repeated,” he added.