Salihu Mohammed Lukman, a key figure in the ongoing coalition discussions among opposition leaders, has stated that negotiations on selecting a political party to serve as the coalition’s platform for the 2027 elections are almost complete.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had confirmed that opposition leaders had formed a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

His remarks sparked widespread debate and speculation across the country.

However, clarifying the situation on Monday, Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman (North West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), explained that while consultations were at an advanced stage, no final decisions had been reached yet.

Lukman, who recently left the APC and has been actively involved in forming the opposition coalition, assured that once negotiations were finalized, a formal announcement would be made detailing the coalition’s membership, its political agenda, and the framework for contesting the 2027 elections.

“At this stage of negotiations, the main focus is around getting leaders to agree to work together and substantially there is strong recognition that prospective members should set aside personal ambitions to contest the 2027 elections,” Lukman said.

He highlighted two major issues dominating the discussions: uniting opposition leaders under a common goal and selecting the political party through which the coalition would field its candidates.

Dismissing media reports that suggested internal disagreements were delaying the talks, Lukman stated that discussions on zoning arrangements had not even begun.

“The consensus among leaders is that the final decision about processes of candidates’ selection can only be handled and determined when there is agreement regarding the political party on whose platform the coalition will field candidates,” he added.

Lukman identified finalizing the party platform as the coalition’s biggest hurdle, pointing out that while some members had tried to register new political parties, they faced challenges from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which he accused of deliberately blocking such efforts.

“To make matters worse, many of the existing registered parties who did not meet the electoral threshold of winning any seat in the last general elections face the threat of deregistration. Given this unpleasant reality, members of the coalition opened negotiations with some of the existing parties that have met the electoral threshold,” he said.

He further alleged that some of these existing parties were being destabilized, citing internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as examples.

Lukman suggested that these challenges were part of a broader strategy to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

“It is almost a clear case of destroying the legal basis for any party to qualify to field candidates for 2027 other than the ruling APC,” he said.

Lukman also expressed concern over what he described as a shrinking democratic space, accusing the APC-led government of political maneuvers that he argued should not be happening under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, given his background as a pro-democracy advocate.

“The way the Nigerian democratic space is rapidly shrunken can only be imagined under a military government,” he said.

Despite these obstacles, Lukman reassured Nigerians that the coalition’s leadership remained steadfast in its commitment to defending democracy.

He urged citizens, including members of the judiciary, to resist any attempts to undermine democratic institutions.

“The leaders of the coalition are committed to providing the needed leadership to rescue Nigerian democracy.

“Difficult as the situation would appear, the negotiation about the political party that will be the platform for the 2027 electoral contest is about to be concluded. All the attempt to push Nigeria into a one-party state will be defeated. Once the negotiation about political party is concluded, Nigerians will be formally informed of all the details, and mobilisation towards 2027 will commence,” he stated.

Lukman emphasized that the coalition’s primary goal was not just to field candidates but to ensure that those elected at all levels remained accountable and committed to upholding democratic governance.

He called on all patriotic Nigerians to support the coalition’s efforts in what he described as a necessary struggle to prevent the country from becoming a one-party state.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has dismissed reports claiming she apologised to the Senate, urging the public to disregard the viral news.

In a statement on Monday titled “Re-purported apology to the Senate over my sexual allegations claim against Senate President Godswill Akpabio”, she reaffirmed her stance, saying, “I, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stand firm in my resolve to never apologise for speaking my truth.”

The senator, who was recently suspended for six months over alleged gross misconduct, described the action as a “clear case of political victimisation” but maintained that she would not be deterred.

Natasha’s suspension came days after a confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a change in the chamber’s sitting arrangement during plenary.

Following the incident, she accused Akpabio of making sexual advances toward her and later petitioned the United Nations over the issue.

Reiterating her commitment to justice, she stated, “I will continue to fight for the rights of Nigerian women and ensure that our voices are heard. The desperation to silence me is palpable, but I will not be intimidated. The games being played in full view of the Nigerian people will be exposed, and the corrupt individuals who have hijacked our institutions will be held accountable.”

She emphasised her role as a lawmaker, stating, “As a senator, I have a duty to represent my constituents and uphold the principles of justice and transparency. My allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio were not made lightly, and I will continue to seek justice and accountability, no matter the cost.”

Addressing the reports of her supposed apology, she urged Nigerians to disregard them, insisting, “I urge the public to ignore the viral report claiming that I apologised to the Senate, as it is entirely false. I will continue to stand by my truth and fight for what is right, even in the face of adversity.”

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will not retain power in Plateau State in the 2027 general election.

Speaking during a Rhythm FM programme in Jos over the weekend, Yilwatda, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the last election, expressed confidence that his party would reclaim the state, while also predicting President Bola Tinubu’s reelection.

He stated, “There’s no vibrancy for the PDP administration on the Plateau. The APC is a humane party. We are strategists, we don’t make noise. Strategists don’t make much noise. I will be coming back to Plateau state during the campaign. I will campaign for Tinubu in 2027 and Tinubu will win Plateau state.”

Highlighting the president’s impact on security in the region, the minister noted that Tinubu’s administration had addressed key challenges in the state, particularly in the agricultural sector.

“Plateau did not vote for him in the last election but he has mitigated against our major problem on the Plateau, especially in the area of security. Many could not go to farm but are now going to farm. President Tinubu will win Plateau in 2027,” he added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is currently holding a high-level meeting to discuss a petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the National Assembly.

INEC’s Acting Director of Publicity, Esther Chibuikem, confirmed that the meeting is taking place in a committee room at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

This follows the formal receipt of the petition by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, on Monday.

The Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside an earlier ruling that had restrained INEC from accepting the recall petition initiated by constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

In its latest ruling, the court reaffirmed that the recall process is constitutionally valid and aligns with the civic rights of the constituents.

It also encouraged the petitioners to continue exercising their rights in a peaceful and orderly manner.

The latest development follows an interim injunction issued on Thursday, which had temporarily barred INEC and its representatives from receiving or acting on any petition containing signatures from members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The Leader of the National Consultative Front, Prof. Pat Utomi, has confirmed ongoing efforts to build a broad coalition aimed at defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

He described the initiative as “serious business,” highlighting growing discontent within both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Utomi revealed that several members from these major parties, along with five other political parties, are eager to join the coalition in a bid to rescue Nigeria.

“This is serious business. Nigeria is on the brink at a time of a changing global order,” he stated.

He explained that the coalition’s strategy involves engaging key influence groups within existing parties.

“The approach we now take is to focus on core influence groups within parties. In this regard, there are good people who subscribe to our values and development strategy in APC and PDP who have significant following and believe there is a better way and have reached out to us,” he said.

Regarding the political platform for the coalition, Utomi noted that discussions were ongoing, adding, “The Social Democratic Party that you have referred to is a work in progress. About five other parties are going through similar processes.”

He further emphasized that “huge numbers are getting ready to leave the APC and PDP and have been reaching out. But the core must be firmly fixed.”

When asked about how the coalition plans to accommodate the various interests within it, Utomi stressed self-sacrifice and collective decision-making as the guiding principles.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recently announced plans for a coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027, with key opposition figures attending the event. Among those present were Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi (represented by Dr. Yunusa Tanko); former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal; ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai; former Ogun State governorship aspirant, Segun Sowunmi; former Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Dr. Salihu Lukman; Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri; Chief Peter Ameh, and Soni Monidafe.

Speaking further on Sunday, Utomi reiterated that the coalition is committed to restoring governance and political discipline in Nigeria.

The NCFront had previously announced plans to unveil a mega coalition in June, with opposition parties and discontented members of the APC intensifying consultations behind the scenes.

Discussions include key stakeholders from both the North and South, as well as defectors from the ruling party and civil society groups.

According to Utomi, many stakeholders from the North believe that Tinubu’s administration has disproportionately impacted their region and are inclined towards supporting a coalition to remove him from office.

The coalition, he said, is designed to promote a government of national unity that prioritizes the common good.

“It needs a national unity government focused on a developmental state, bringing progress to every nook and cranny of Nigeria, not egotists and narcissists looking for state capture to burnish bloated personal accounts around the world while their country slides into the economic abyss,” Utomi stated.

He also insisted that decision-making within the coalition must be collective, saying, “Another point is that leadership of the new order must be collective. No more of the Buhari or ‘Baba sope’ approach that got in the way of a collective good goal in the past iterations of rescue missions. Decisions must be made collectively. We will not be victims of groupthink anymore.”

Utomi hinted that a “collective shadow team” would be launched soon and that, where necessary, people power would be used to influence the country’s political direction.

Outlining the goals of the coalition, Utomi emphasized, “It is to make democracy work for the people and to ensure a government with a people-centred focus accelerates constitutional reforms for a better working Nigeria.

“It also aims to redeem the collapse of culture in Nigeria as well as showing by example how a disciplined political party acts, especially in how more capable and values-driven people are recruited into public life.”

He further stressed that the movement is built on self-sacrificing individuals who are committed to disciplined organization.

“The change we deserve is about a core of people who are a self-sacrificing group focused on disciplined organization to move the apparatus of cooperation and state authority.

“It is also to advance the common good in an atmosphere of freedom that is democratic, transparent and people-centred because touts and criminals abound in many parties and will take money from those in power to simulate the appearance of crisis.”