ABUJA — Former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has said he would accept President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 presidential election as the verdict of Nigerians, rather than blame the opposition coalition for failing to unite
Dalung stated this on ’s Politics Today on Monday, against the backdrop of ongoing efforts by opposition parties to forge a coalition ahead of the 2027 election
The former minister said the sovereignty to determine who governs the country ultimately belonged to Nigerians, stressing that a Tinubu victory would mean the opposition had failed to convince the electorate on the issues it was presenting
“I will accept it as a verdict of Nigerians It will mean that we are not on the same page with Nigerians as to the issues of the sovereignty of this country,” Dalung said.
“I’m not going to blame it on the coalition, because the coalition is speaking on behalf of the Nigerian people, who have sovereignty, who have the power to determine who governs them
“So, if they elect Bola Tinubu in 2027 as a democrat, I will accept it as a verdict of the people”
Dalung’s position comes amid efforts by opposition parties to build a common platform capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 presidential election
About two weeks ago, six opposition parties proposed a “government of national competence” that would operate for a single four-year transition term if elected in 2027
The proposal was presented at an opposition political parties’ summit organised by G100 in Abuja
The parties represented at the summit were the African Democratic Congress, ADC; Allied Peoples Movement, APM; Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Peoples Redemption Party, PRP; and Social Democratic Party, SDP
Salihu Lukman, former APC National Vice-Chairman, North-West, presented the proposal at the summit
He said the proposed government would be anchored on competence, integrity, national inclusion and fair representation
The parties also proposed an enforceable transition charter to ensure that participating parties adhere to the agreement
Under the proposed framework, the coalition would establish a central leadership committee, publicity and communication committee, and legal committee
It would also establish working groups on democratic renewal, the single-term transition charter, national reforms, opposition unity and the selection of a common presidential candidate
Dalung’s comments effectively place the responsibility for the 2027 outcome on the electorate, rather than on the opposition’s ability or failure to consolidate its political forces