Opposition parties confirm merger talks ahead of 2027

The Peoples Redemption Party, on Friday, confirmed that it has initiated discussions with another opposition party, the African Democratic Congress, on a potential merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The National Chairman of the PRP, Falalu Bello, disclosed this at a joint conference with his ADC counterpart, Ralphs Nwosu, in Abuja, on Friday.

This comes three days after the ruling All Progressives Congress warned that no merger of the opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra Governor Peter Obi, could stop President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

APC was reacting to the statement made by Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, that both his principal and his Labour Party counterpart had learnt their lessons in the last general elections and would unite to kick out the ruling party from office.

Similarly, some parties under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties and the Social Democratic Party had also expressed readiness for talks of a possible alliance, saying the country needed more than just a coalition of only Atiku and Obi.

Addressing journalists on Friday, Bello confirmed that the PRP had initiated talks with the leadership of ADC to begin the process of rescuing the country from the grasp of the ruling party.

He said, “Yes, we have begun talks. We are not afraid of mergers at all. Let us look at the electoral history. The PRP is the oldest political party today. We formed the government in Kaduna in 1979 because of a political alliance with the UPN, NPP, and PNP, who joined today to win the election in the state.

“If other parties want to join us, then they are welcome. The doors are open for even individuals, not only political parties. But if they prefer joining a party that is anti-people and talks only about money politics, go to the PDP and APC. That is what they stand for. They are two sides of a coin.

“So we are saying that we are tired and want something fresh. And if that requires me or the ADC chairman to step down, so be it. This country is more important than all of us. The PRP constitution represents the principles and ideology we stand for.”