Author
By Tochukwu Cyril
The opposition’s decision to begin discussions on a possible political merger in Abuja, just days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally signalled the commencement of activities towards the 2027 general elections, may appear politically strategic. But in my view, it is premature.
The objective is obvious: to build a formidable political platform capable of challenging and potentially dislodging the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) government in 2027. However, the question is whether the opposition parties currently have enough political structures, grassroots networks and electoral strength to make such a coalition meaningful.
A merger without strong structures may produce little more than a new political label.
Rather than rushing into negotiations over who should merge with whom, opposition parties should first return to the field. They need to build strong ward, local government and state structures, identify their supporters, recruit credible grassroots organisers and establish networks capable of mobilising voters when the election arrives.
The history of opposition collaboration in Nigeria provides an important lesson.
Before the formation of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2015 election, the major opposition forces already had identifiable political structures and followership. The merger was therefore not simply an arrangement between politicians looking for an electoral vehicle. It brought together existing structures that could be deployed for a common political objective.
That distinction is important.
A coalition works best when the parties involved have something substantial to bring to the table. Political influence cannot be measured only by the number of prominent politicians sitting around a conference table. It is ultimately measured by the strength of the organisation at the grassroots.
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The current rush towards a possible opposition coalition could therefore be counterproductive if it happens before these structures are built.
It may also expose the opposition to unnecessary infiltration, internal rivalry and political manoeuvring long before the real contest begins. The longer a political arrangement remains exposed without a clearly defined structure and strategy, the greater the opportunity for competing interests to penetrate and destabilise it.
There is also the danger that some parties may enter the proposed coalition with little more than their names, while others carry the burden of providing the actual political machinery. Such an arrangement could create resentment and disagreements over candidate selection, zoning, resource sharing and control of the proposed political platform.
The opposition should therefore resist the temptation to mistake political excitement for political preparation.
There is still time to build. The priority should be the field: wards, polling units, local governments and communities. Politicians should be meeting voters, organising supporters, strengthening party structures and developing a clear message that resonates beyond political circles.
A merger should be the culmination of political preparation, not a substitute for it.
If the opposition parties succeed in building strong networks independently, they will enter any future coalition from a position of strength. Each party will know exactly what it brings to the table, and negotiations will be based on actual political value rather than assumptions.
The 2027 election will not be won in Abuja conference rooms alone. It will be won at the polling units.
For now, the opposition should go to the field, build its structures and organise its supporters. When the time is right, they can come together with something substantial to offer.
It is too early to think merger. It is time to think structure.
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