2027: Nigeria’s survival more important than Tinubu’s ambition

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to take urgent steps to address rising political tension and violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party warned that Nigeria’s survival must take priority over the political ambitions of any individual.

The National Chairman of the PDP Interim National Working Committee, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, gave the warning on Sunday during a press conference in Abuja.

Speaking on the theme, “The Country Is Boiling; Can We Reduce the Temperature?”, Turaki expressed concern over alleged attacks on opposition politicians, voter intimidation and declining confidence in the country’s electoral institutions.

He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of making it difficult for opposition parties to operate freely through alleged intimidation, violence and court cases.

According to him, such developments could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections and threaten national stability.

“Nigeria is bigger than anybody and the ambition of any individual. We must appreciate that this country must survive for you to become whatever you want to become.

“Whether you want to be a president, a governor, a member of the National Assembly or an ordinary councillor in your ward, you must have a country first,” he said.

Turaki also cited a survey which, according to him, showed that 84 per cent of Nigerians were willing to vote, while 61 per cent feared that electoral violence could prevent them from visiting polling stations.

He further claimed that only 34 per cent of respondents had confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while 63 per cent expressed little or no confidence in the judiciary’s ability to resolve electoral disputes fairly.

The PDP chairman also raised concerns over alleged threats by some public officials to displace voters who refused to support the ruling party.

He recalled former President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration that his political ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian, contrasting it with statements attributed to former President Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu ahead of previous elections.

Turaki warned that although politicians could secure electoral victories through intimidation and violence, such victories might come at the expense of public trust.

He called on Tinubu to publicly condemn political violence and ensure that allegations of attacks on opposition politicians and their supporters were investigated.

The opposition party also demanded that security agencies make their election security plans public and urged the government to guarantee equal access to public facilities for all political parties during campaigns.

It further called on INEC to address alleged discrepancies in the voters’ register and urged the judiciary to remain independent in handling electoral disputes.

Former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, who also spoke at the event, urged Tinubu to act as the President of the country rather than as a partisan political leader.

Gana said the President had a responsibility to protect Nigeria’s peace and stability, regardless of the political consequences for his party.