By Emmanuel Enebeli
ASABA/Nigeria: A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Ogidi, has expressed confidence that ongoing efforts by opposition political groups to form a broad coalition will produce a credible platform capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Ogidi, who spoke during an interview with Arise Television, Newsday edition of Wednesday, September 2, 2026 said the proposed coalition was not solely about the political survival of the PDP but about rescuing Nigeria from what he described as the worsening challenges confronting the country.
According to him, the opposition cannot afford to remain fragmented if it genuinely wants to provide an alternative to the APC-led government.
He said the consultations involving the G100 and other political interests were aimed at bringing together Nigerians who were concerned about the direction of the country, stressing that the initiative should be viewed as a national project rather than a partisan undertaking.
“It’s not all about PDP; it’s about Nigeria. So, any person who is interested in Nigeria should join,” Ogidi said.
He acknowledged that forging a united opposition would not be easy, particularly given the internal disagreements that have affected opposition parties in recent times.
However, he said the challenges could be overcome if political leaders were prepared to make the necessary sacrifices in the national interest.
Ogidi also expressed confidence that the coalition could achieve its objective despite the relatively short period remaining before the 2027 elections.
He argued that the political support enjoyed by the APC in the 2023 presidential election had diminished, while a significant proportion of voters remained outside the ruling party.
“What did they use to win in 2023? They got about 30 percent. So, now, 70 percent is outside,” he said, arguing that the opposition could harness that wider pool of support by working together.
The PDP chieftain further criticised the APC administration over what he described as unfulfilled promises, saying Nigerians needed a credible opposition capable of holding government accountable.
According to him, a strong opposition is also necessary for the health of democracy and can contribute to better governance irrespective of which party is in power.
Ogidi said he remained committed to the struggle for a better Nigeria despite having spent several decades in politics.
“I’ve been in this game since 1979. I’m already getting exhausted, but I want to consider this as the last fight, and I’m ready to give it everything I have to ensure that we remove this government,” he said.
On the contentious issue of fuel subsidy, Ogidi said the debate should go beyond whether the subsidy should be removed or reinstated, arguing that greater attention should be paid to how government manages the resources saved from subsidy removal.
He questioned the effectiveness of government measures introduced to cushion the impact of the policy on Nigerians and called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
Ogidi maintained that the opposition coalition would have to engage in difficult negotiations on policy issues where participating parties hold different positions.
He said the ultimate objective should be the emergence of a government capable of improving the welfare of Nigerians.
The PDP chieftain also spoke in favour of continued discussions on proposals for a transitional arrangement, saying different options were being considered as part of the broader negotiations among opposition interests.
He stressed that reaching an agreement would require political leaders to make personal and partisan sacrifices in the interest of the country.
According to him, Nigeria’s current challenges make cooperation among opposition forces imperative, adding that the consequences of failing to reach an understanding could be severe.
Ogidi’s comments come amid growing consultations among opposition politicians and groups seeking to build a broad political coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
