Tinubu: You Cannot Say That You Are Fighting A Coalition And Then End Up In A Coalition – Ikoawaji

In a recent interview on Arise TV, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Asukewe Ikoawaji, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), criticised the political arrangement involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and politicians from different political parties, questioning the consistency of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding coalition politics ahead of the 2027 general election.

Ikoawaji examined the inclusion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo in Tinubu’s presidential campaign council. He argued that the arrangement reflected cooperation among politicians from different parties, despite the criticism of coalition politics by members of the ruling party.

According to Ikoawaji, “You cannot say that you are fighting a coalition and then end up in a coalition.” He made the statement while discussing the political implications of bringing members of opposition parties into the president’s campaign structure ahead of the next general election.

The NDC chieftain pointed out that Wike remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adeleke belonged to the Accord Party, while Soludo was a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He questioned why politicians from different political parties were being included in the APC’s campaign council if the ruling party opposed coalition arrangements.

Ikoawaji maintained that the development demonstrated the importance of examining political actions rather than relying solely on public statements. He argued that the participation of politicians from different parties in the campaign council raised questions about the ruling party’s position on political alliances.

He also called on opposition parties to recognise the need for cooperation ahead of the 2027 election. According to him, Nigeria’s economic difficulties require political leaders to put aside personal ambitions and work towards addressing the challenges confronting citizens.

He concluded that political parties should be consistent in their positions on coalition arrangements, stressing that opposition politicians must also work together if they hope to offer Nigerians an alternative in the 2027 general election.

Click on the link to watch the video from 2:55 – 3:01

OkikeVirtue feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com