**Says coalition not about any individual
By Jude Opara, Abuja
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Salihu Lukman, has said that whoever will clinch the ticket of the Coalition in the 2027 election must earn it by winning at a free and fair primary election.
Lukman further disclosed that the party will avoid mistakes made in the 2023 election by both former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi as well as others willing to contest the ticket of the party.
The chieftain who was a former National Vice Chairman (North) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while featuring on a Channels Television programme also appealed to all supporters of various presidential aspirants to join hands with the Coalition to rescue the country from the hands of the APC led administration.
He observed that once the opposition leaders are divided by 2027 with more than one candidate, it’s as much as granting victory to APC and President Bola Tinubu.
“So as much as possible, we must keep the opposition together, and in keeping the opposition together, it’s not about asking anybody to step down.
“And I appeal to the Obidients’ and other groups, to really understand that the ADC and the coalition is the home for them. And they should come and let’s build ourselves together.
“If Peter Obi emerges as the presidential candidate of ADC, we will all support him and strengthen him to overcome the shortcomings of the past. So also, any other person, if it is Atiku Abubakar that emerged, for instance, we will support him and strengthen him in such a way that he doesn’t repeat the mistake of former President Buhari.
“So I think these are issues which as citizens, as Nigerians, we must be very
honest and frank in engaging them if we are going to move this country forward. This is the kind of debate we want to have in ADC. Everybody will slog it out in the presidential primary, apparently.”
Lukman said the debate within the ADC and within the coalition will factor all and ensure that the factor of equity is properly taken care of and addressed in a way that Nigerians will see there is a new party which respects the interests of every party member and is going to accommodate everyone.
The Kaduna state born politician, however, revealed that at the moment there is no discussion about presidential candidate in the merger group.
“Let me be very clear on this, there is no discussion about the question of presidential candidate in the coalition up to this moment. And our position is basically whoever, and that is the first test of whether we’ll be different from the existing parties or not, whoever will be the candidate of the ADC must win the primary.
“It’s the first test of whether those aspiring are in the first place, democrats or not. And this is the issue we are engaging all of them. And the other test, which we are putting to all of them is that their ambition must go beyond their personal expectation.
It has to factor the reality facing the country.
“They have to come ready to be able to make the needed sacrifice to move this country forward. As it is, we have to be very, very honest, where the country is, it’s not simply about presenting candidates.
“I always put forward to them that, look, as far as I’m concerned, it’s not a question of trusting leaders, you know.
It’s not, I mean, leaders must earn their trust. So the best way leaders can earn trust is to be able to show humility
that they are ready to subordinate themselves to the wishes of members of the party.
“Coming from APC, having a situation where we trusted leaders and they end up becoming emperors today. Look at what is happening in APC. Everywhere you hear “on your mandate, on your mandate, on your mandate,” I’m not going to stand on anybody’s mandate.
“We want the person to always subordinate himself to members of the party, always seeking to get clearance in terms of what they are doing. That is the kind of template that we are looking for. And I think as Nigerians, we must resist the temptation of setting up leaders in a way that they become very arrogant, believing that it is either them or nothing. And that is the kind of negotiation that is right now going on within the Coalition. And it’s a very difficult negotiation, I must confess, but we are very confident that in the end, we will succeed in presenting a common candidate in 2027”.
