Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria’s 2023 elections, emphasized the significance of collaboration among opposition parties in Nigeria.
His statement followed the victory of Bassirou Diomaye Faye in the presidential election in Senegal, Atiku highlighted that Faye’s success in Senegal serves as a compelling example for opposition parties in Nigeria to unite with the aim of removing President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 elections.
He said that democracy, which means people choosing their leaders through voting, is very important for how countries are run, believing that Faye’s win in Senegal proves that elections can work well in West Africa.
Atiku talked about how Nigeria’s elections in the past didn’t meet expectations, mentioning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is responsible for organizing elections in Nigeria. Atiku said that INEC didn’t do a good job in the 2019 and 2023 elections.
“Our experiences in both 2019 and 2023 show clearly that INEC performed below this expectation. Whereas in Senegal, the responses of the major actors and the citizens are a validation of the process of the election that voted for President-elect Bassirou Diomaye.”
He said that Senegal’s recent election showed how everyone, including politicians and citizens, agreed that the election process was fair. Atiku thinks Nigeria can learn from this.
Atiku also mentioned Nigeria’s 2015 elections when the opposition party won, showing that it’s possible for opposition parties to win.
He wants opposition parties in Nigeria to come together like they did in 2015 to challenge the ruling party.
He ended his message by congratulating President-elect Faye and saying that he hopes Faye’s presidency will help Senegal and inspire other countries in West Africa.
“Congratulations, President-elect Faye. It is my hope and prayer that your election will not only be hugely beneficial to the people of Senegal but also an inspiration to the rest of us in the West African sub region.”
