Obono-Obla Criticizes Push for United Opposition Candidate
Former chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) under ex‑President Muhammadu Buhari, Okoi Obono-Obla, has rejected recent appeals for Nigeria’s opposition parties to field a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He described the call as misguided, stating that the opposition is currently “disorderly, terribly fragmented, disoriented, purposeless and rudderless.” According to Obono-Obla, the opposition’s occasional grandstanding and social media activity do not amount to a credible political force.
The remarks came in response to a coalition of 100 prominent Nigerians, known as the G100 and led by Malam Salihu Muhammed Lukman, which urged major opposition leaders to set aside personal ambitions and unite before the 2027 polls.
Obono-Obla warned that attempting to forge a unity ticket just months before the election — when campaigns are set to resume in late August 2026 — would be ineffective. He argued that genuine opposition cohesion cannot be decreed shortly before a major vote.
Instead, he advocated for a principled, long‑term rebuilding of the opposition to present Nigerians with a credible alternative that extends beyond the 2027 election cycle.
Obono-Obla also recalled his personal relationship with Lukman, noting his respect for the convener’s intellectual approach and patriotism. He reminisced about their last meeting in the office of former Nasarawa State Governor Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, where Lukman gifted him a book on internal APC reforms.
He added that Lukman later left the APC for the ADC in 2025 and, weeks ago, announced his departure from the ADC due to disagreements with its Kaduna State leadership.
About the Author
