Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, immediate past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and a 2023 presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has claimed that the inability of opposition figures Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Rabiu Kwankwaso to unite against the ruling party paved the way for President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 election.
In an interview with The Sun, Ohuabunwa pointed out that if the votes garnered by PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso were combined, Tinubu would have been defeated.
He expressed confidence that if the three opposition leaders come together ahead of the 2027 elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could be unseated. According to him, the exit of these “three strong politicians alongside their supporters from the PDP” contributed significantly to Tinubu’s win.
“Look at the votes Obi, Atiku and Kwankwaso got in the 2023 presidential election – those votes nearly doubled that of President Tinubu. It’s very possible for them to unseat the APC, but the question is whether they are really serious to do so and whether the ruling party would give them the space to thrive,” Ohuabunwa said.
He warned that the APC does not want such a coalition to succeed, fearing the impact it could have on their grip on power. Ohuabunwa added that APC itself came to power through a coalition formed by merging ANPP, ACN, and CPC, emphasizing the power of united opposition.
The former aspirant’s remarks highlight the ongoing discussion around opposition unity as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
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