The National Consultative Front (NCFront), a significant political alliance of leading opposition forces in Nigeria, has announced ongoing efforts to unite major candidates from the 2023 presidential election.
The initiative aims to form a new mega movement to counter the “misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).” The candidates involved include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwakwanso.
Led by Prof. Pat Utomi, NCFront disclosed this plan in a statement released by its national spokesperson, Mallam Hamisu San Turaki, on Tuesday.
The group praised Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, for his strategic political maneuvers to rally key opposition leaders against the ruling APC.
NCFront noted that Obi’s efforts to consult with Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, and other prominent opposition figures have been endorsed by the group.
These consultations are seen as a precursor to a series of activities planned by a new committee set up to facilitate the alignment and fusion of leading opposition leaders and forces into a new ideological movement.
The group anticipates that this alignment process will lead to the creation of an alternative Mega Political Movement for Nigerians by March 2025.
This movement aims to unite like-minded political leaders and groups across the country under a single ideological platform, regardless of their current party affiliations. The issue of merging political parties is considered secondary and will only be addressed if necessary after the formation of the new mega party.
The committee, whose inaugural meeting was hosted by Prof. Pat Utomi in Lagos on February 6, 2024, includes notable members such as Prof. Pat Utomi, Engr. Buba Galadima, Senator Shehu Sanni, Ambassador Mrs. Nkoyo Toyo, Barr. Ladipo Johnson, Mallam Ibrahim Ali Ansami, Mr. Adai Edwin Adai, Obongawan Barbara James, Barr. Promise Adewusi, Mrs. Chinyere Oforkansi, and Mallam Hamisu San Turaki.
The committee plans to launch the political realignment process next month with major consultative meetings involving leading opposition presidential candidates, particularly Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso.
This will be followed by national intervention meetings and summits of like-minded political leaders and groups to address the state of Nigeria and initiate a broad-based, value-driven political movement and mega party to counter the APC’s governance.
Regarding the selection of a candidate for the new movement in the 2027 election, NCFront stated that this issue will be addressed only after the formation of the mega movement.
The 2023 presidential candidates and other political figures involved in the consultations have agreed to set aside their individual ambitions to create a strong opposition capable of preventing a national crisis.
The group emphasized that national salvation is the primary goal of this political intervention, and any individual found pursuing personal political agendas risks expulsion from the movement.
