Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has announced the formation of a new coalition of opposition political parties, aimed at challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku made the declaration during a press conference at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Thursday, where he was joined by key opposition figures, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Labour Party spokesperson Yunusa Tanko, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha.
The coalition, which marks the birth of a united front against Tinubu’s leadership, is positioned to address what they describe as the president’s unconstitutional actions and governance failures.
Atiku condemned Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which led to the suspension of elected officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu. Atiku called this move a clear subversion of democracy, arguing that it undermines Nigeria’s democratic structures and violates the Constitution.
He emphasized that Section 305 of the Constitution only permits the president to declare a state of emergency under extreme circumstances related to public safety, national security, or sovereignty, and does not extend to suspending elected officials.
Atiku warned that such actions could set a dangerous precedent for arbitrary removal of governors, undermining the country’s democratic institutions.
The opposition leaders have called on civil society organizations, political groups, and Nigerians to reject what they described as an assault on the Constitution.
They have also pledged to unite in preparation for the 2027 elections, signaling the beginning of an intensified political struggle against the current administration.
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