2027: Dalung Says Nigerians, Not Opposition Coalition, Will Decide Tinubu’s Fate

ABUJA — Former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung says he will accept a Bola Tinubu victory in the 2027 presidential election as the choice of Nigerians, arguing that the opposition cannot be blamed if voters return the incumbent.

Dalung made the statement on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday as opposition parties continue negotiations to build a coalition ahead of the 2027 poll.

According to him, Nigerians possess the sovereignty to decide who governs the country, meaning any victory for Tinubu would show that the opposition failed to persuade voters on the issues it was campaigning on.

“I will accept it as a verdict of Nigerians. It will mean that we are not on the same page with Nigerians as to the issues of the sovereignty of this country,” Dalung said.

He rejected the suggestion that the opposition coalition should be blamed if Tinubu wins.

“I’m not going to blame it on the coalition, because the coalition is speaking on behalf of the Nigerian people, who have sovereignty, who have the power to determine who governs them,” he said.

“So, if they elect Bola Tinubu in 2027 as a democrat, I will accept it as a verdict of the people.”

Dalung spoke against the backdrop of moves by opposition parties to establish a united platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 presidential election.

Opposition parties propose four-year transition government

About two weeks ago, six opposition parties proposed the establishment of a “government of national competence” that would serve a single four-year transition term if elected in 2027.

The proposal was unveiled at an opposition political parties’ summit organised by G100 in Abuja.

The parties at the summit included the African Democratic Congress, ADC; Allied Peoples Movement, APM; Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Peoples Redemption Party, PRP; and Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Former APC National Vice-Chairman, North-West, Salihu Lukman, presented the proposal.

Lukman said the proposed government would be based on competence, integrity, national inclusion and fair representation.

The parties also proposed an enforceable transition charter to bind participating parties to the agreement.

The proposed structure would include a central leadership committee, publicity and communication committee, and legal committee.

It would also feature working groups responsible for democratic renewal, the single-term transition charter, national reforms, opposition unity and the selection of a common presidential candidate.

Dalung’s comments shift the focus of the 2027 contest from opposition unity to the electorate, suggesting that the ultimate responsibility for determining the winner rests with Nigerian voters.

Africans Angle News