Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP) chieftain Peter Obi have disagreed on the plans for a coalition to dislodge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next general election.
Atiku emphasised the importance of synergy among the opposition parties in a bid to wrest power from the ruling party.
However, Obi said he would not endorse any coalition if the motive is restricted to mere power grabbing.
The two opposition politicians spoke on the challenge of civil rule, leadership and political reforms at the ‘Democracy Conference’ in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The theme of the two-day conference is: “Strengthening Nigeria Democracy: Partway to Good Governance and Political Integrity.”
A keynote address titled: “Party Politics and Political Integrity: The Role of Political Parties and Opposition in Democracy” was delivered by a historian, Prof Bayo Olukosi.
It was the second time the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election and his LP counterpart would differ on how the opposition political parties should collaborate and give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a fight in 2027.
The leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, had also distanced himself from any proposed mergers and fusion, accusing those behind the move of hypocrisy.
To Atiku, the only way to dislodge the sitting government is through the coalition of opposition parties united by similarity of ideas and motives.
However, Obi distanced himself from any proposed coalition, saying: “I’m not interested in coalition for the purpose of power grabbing.”
