One of the arrow heads in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Salihu Lukman, has said whoever will fly the ticket of the Coalition in 2027 election must earn it by winning at the primary.
He also disclosed that the party will avoid mistakes made in the past election by both former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, among others willing to contest the ticket of the party.
Speaking when he appeared Tuesday morning on Channels TV programme, Mallam Lukman, who was a former National Vice Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), also appealed to all supporters of various presidential aspirants to join hands with the Coalition to rescue Nigeria.
According to him, once the opposition leaders are divided, if by 2027 we present more than one candidate, it’s as much as granting victory to APC and President Asiwaju. So as much as possible, we must keep the opposition together, and in keeping the opposition together, it’s not about asking anybody to step down.
“And I appeal to the obedients and other groups, to really understand that the ADC and the coalition is the home for them. And they should come and let’s build ourselves together.
“If Peter Obi emerge as the presidential candidate of ADC, we will all support him and strengthen him to overcome the shortcomings of the past.
“So also, any other, if it is Atiku Abubakar that emerge, for instance,
we will support him and strengthen him in such a way that he doesn’t repeat the mistake of former President Buhari.
“So I think these are issues which as citizens, as Nigerians, we must be very
honest and frank in engaging them if we are going to move this country forward. This is the kind of debate we want to have in ADC.
“Everybody will slog it out in the presidential primary, apparently.”
The Kaduna born politician said the debate within the ADC and within the coalition will factor all and ensure that the factor of equity is properly taken care of and addressed in a way that Nigerians will see there is a new party which respects the interests of every party member and is going to accommodate everyone.
Lukman, however, declared that currently there is no discussion about presidential candidate in the Coalition.
“Let me be very clear on this, there is no discussion about the question of presidential candidate in the coalition up to this moment. And our position is basically whoever, and that is the first test of whether we’ll be different from the existing parties or not, whoever will be the candidate of the ADC must win the primary.
“It’s the first test of whether those aspiring are in the first place, democrats or not. And this is the issue we are engaging all of them. And the other test, which we are putting to all of them is that their ambition must go beyond their personal expectation.
It has to factor the reality facing the country.
“They have to come ready to be able to make the needed sacrifice to move this country forward. As it is, we have to be very, very honest, where the country is, it’s not simply about presenting candidates.”