By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Presidential Candidates of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, Accord Party, Dr Gbenga Hashim, and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, AAC, have underscored the imperative of the opposition forging a common front ahead of the 2027 polls.

This is as they called for the immediate release of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB , Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and Hausa Zallah Cultural Rights agitator, Bichia Maisango.

At a consultative parley held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the three presidential hopefuls expressed serious concern over what they described as the persistent and consistent shrinking of the democratic space, the dangerous concentration of power, and the steady weakening and erosion of democratic institutions in the country.

They expressed fears that Nigeria could be railroaded into a totalitarian state if the unmitigated assault on multi-party democracy is not  urgently checked.

To this end, the three Presidential flag bearers resolved in principle to form a working political alliance, with a view to presenting and promoting a common candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Details of the modalities of the proposed alliance, according to them, will soon be disclosed. They assured that the overriding interests of the country and the people will drive the realignment process.

“The larger national interest must take precedence over individual political ambitions”, they stated.

The three political leaders also demanded the review of cases involving the IPOB leader, Kanu, Hausa Zallah Cultural Rights  Maisango and several other detained activists and agitators, and noted that most of them are being held for exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to political expression and self-determination.

They also called for an immediate halt to the Federal Government’s ongoing legal proceedings against the AAC Presidential Candidate, Sowore, which they perceive as  political persecution

However, they emphasized that their position on the detained agitators and others does not tantamount to an approval of their modus operandi ,in pursuing their cause.

The Presidential candidates noted that their views are rather anchored on their beliefs that democratic societies must accommodate dissent and peaceful disagreement.

The political leaders also urged the international community, especially Nigeria’s development partners to closely monitor the ongoing democratic process in the country.

According to them, the searchlight should be beamed on the conducts of the country’s security architecture, electoral institutions, the judiciary, legislature and the executive arms of Government, by the international community, global democratic Governments, regional institutions and human rights organizations.

They accused most of the country’s democratic and critical institutions of collaborating with the Government in manipulating the political process and weakening the opposition.

While not advocating for unnecessary meddlesomeness in the internal affairs of Nigeria, the three Presidential Candidates however, called for accountability where  there are sufficient evidence of individuals abuse of public office and institutional authority aimed at undermining the country’s democratic arrangement.

In this circumstance, they urged development partners to document credible instances of democratic reversals , with a view to  meting out appropriate sanctions, including visa restrictions, and other lawful measures against individuals found to be undermining the democratic processes.

They explained that their position is primarily targeted at protecting multi-party democracy in Nigeria.

“Nigeria’s multi-party democracy must be preserved. No individuals, political parties, security agencies, electoral officials or institutions are bigger than the Nigerian Constitution”, they added.

While strongly condemning the economic policies of President Bola  Tinubu-led administration, the three Presidential Candidates lamented the excruciating hardships being experienced by the people as a result of petroleum products subsidy removal and the floating of Naira.

According to them, the twin policies which were introduced without adequate safeguards have resulted in rising living costs, declining purchasing power, unemployment and widespread economic hardship.

They called for economic reforms, including an urgent review of national minimum wages, with a view to ensuring a genuine living wage, stronger domestic production, investment promotion, job creation and measures toward reducing inflationary rate.

They also called for a review of the country’s security architecture, targeted at proactive national security strategy anchored on intelligence gathering, technology, adequately equipped security forces, community cooperation, economic opportunity and effective prosecution.

They also expressed their unwavering commitment and unflinching determination towards protecting Nigeria’s democratic arrangement, through the rejection of any known or perceived anti-democratic actions aimed at undermining the opposition.

“A democracy without meaningful opposition is merely an electoral ritual”, they affirmed.