Galadima: Tinubu’s government destabilising opposition, unwilling to hold credible elections

Buba Galadima, chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of being unwilling to conduct free and fair elections in 2027.

In an interview on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, on Monday, Galadima alleged that the administration’s tactics to destabilise opposition parties indicate a desire to eliminate any challenge in the upcoming polls.

However, the NNPC chieftain maintained there will be opposition at the polls, adding that if the government does not change its style of governance, it risks losing the elections.

“This government is not ready to organise a free and fair election. From their antics and how they are destabilising parties, that suggests they don’t want an opposition at all for the election,” he said.

“I want to assure them that there will be opposition, and if they don’t change their style of governance, they will lose this election.”

Galadima described Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, as the “generalissimo” of Nigerian politics, who, given a free and fair election, will always win Kano.

“Kwankwaso is the generalissimo of Nigeria’s politics because he is the only one, come rain, come shine, who, if there is a free and fair election, will deliver the most populous state in Nigeria,” he said.

On the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Galadima described it as a conglomeration of politicians, expressing regret that selfish interests have prevented a united front to unseat the current government, despite knowing which combinations could win the election.

“ADC is a conglomeration of politicians. I could have wished all of us to come together to unseat the present government, but because of selfishness,” he added.

“All of them know who and who can be combined to win the election, but are we ready to do that?”

Galadima also commented on the reported meeting between former President Goodluck Jonathan and Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, noting that they should agree on a candidate to contest against Tinubu.

“If they (Jonathan and Obi) can come together and bring one person, you can see the whole country will fall in line because it is a political strategy to get us out of this hardship,” he said.