Atiku calls for merger of opposition parties against APC

Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, called for a merger of opposition parties against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Atiku made the call on Tuesday in a statement issued by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, when he hosted the national executive committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja.

He warned that Nigeria’s democracy is “fast becoming a one-party system” and noted that the project of protecting democracy in the country is not about just one man.

The former vice president pointed out that a formidable coalition is necessary to address the perceived decline in democratic values and to prevent Nigeria from becoming a de facto one-party system.

“We have all seen how the APC is increasingly turning Nigeria into a dictatorship of one party. If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn,” Atiku said.

Atiku also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that the body conducted the “worst-ever general elections” in Nigeria’s history.

Atiku urged opposition lawmakers to prioritise electronic voting, stating that it is crucial for INEC to regain credibility and ensure transparency in future elections.

He noted the urgency of passing legislation to support electoral reforms, asserting that countries less advanced than Nigeria have successfully implemented electronic voting systems.

“That is also why I will urge you all to appeal to lawmakers of the various opposition parties in the National Assembly to sponsor legislation that will advance the course of the constitutional and electoral reform agenda that I shared in my recent press conference.

“The issue of electronic voting must be the urgent priority of the National Assembly because countries that are far less advanced than Nigeria are already doing it.”

Atiku’s call comes in the aftermath of the 2023 presidential election, where he faced defeat against President Bola Tinubu of the APC.