Umar Ardo, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate for Adamawa in the 2023 general election, believes that President Bola Tinubu can be unseated in the 2027 general elections, provided the opposition forms a new political party.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Wednesday, Ardo, a political strategist and convener of the League of Northern Democrats, expressed strong optimism about a united opposition.
However, he acknowledged that the current coalition, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, is grappling with internal ideological differences.
Read Also: Abati Sends Warning To Tinubu Concerning Wike
Ardo dismissed the idea of merging with an existing party, arguing that creating a new political platform would offer a stronger and more credible alternative.
“If the entire opposition coalition unites and agrees to form a new party, the chances of defeating President Tinubu in 2027 are high,” he stated.
He revealed that two committees were formed within the coalition—one to explore merging with an existing party and another to consider registering a new one. Both have submitted their reports, and Ardo noted, “from what I have seen, the case for merging with an existing party is weak.”
Ardo stressed that the coalition’s success hinges on adopting the correct strategy, believing that “With the right approach and decision, I believe victory is very achievable.”
When asked about recent tensions at the coalition’s summit involving some delegates from Jigawa, Ardo downplayed the incident as a normal phase in political alliances.
“At the formative stage of any coalition, disagreements are expected,” he said.
He identified the main divide as ideological: “mainly over whether to join an existing party or establish a new one. Many coalition members, including some leaders, favour the former. However, our group, the LND, believes that creating a new party is the way forward.” He confirmed that the coalition remains intact despite these strategic differences.
Ardo also reflected on President Tinubu’s 2023 electoral victory, claiming it was secured with support from less than 38 percent of registered voters.
“This indicates that a majority of Nigerians either did not vote or felt unrepresented,” he said, adding, “With over 90 million people voluntarily registering to vote, it is clear that many Nigerians are eager to engage in the political process.”
He concluded that the high cost of maintaining political party structures is a major barrier for new entrants, but argued that forming a new party backed by the coalition could overcome this hurdle and mobilize widespread support.
Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2
