A group, the Democratic Integrity Forum, has cautioned Victor Umeh against what it described as attempts to pressure Atiku Abubakar into stepping down for Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its National President, Dr. Ukpai Emmanuel, the group characterized such calls as undemocratic and harmful to Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
The forum argued that no aspirant should be compelled to withdraw from a race, stressing that democratic principles demand open competition rather than coercion. It pointed out that Umeh himself had a history of fiercely contesting political positions, including his emergence as National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and his senatorial ambition, questioning why similar pressure should now be applied to others.
“It is undemocratic for anyone to demand that another candidate should step down,” the statement read, describing the alleged move as “political immaturity and gross democratic recklessness.”
The group further criticized what it termed “selective pressure,” asking why the same calls were not directed at other prominent figures within the opposition, including Rotimi Amaechi or Atiku Abubakar himself in reverse scenarios.
According to the forum, the priority for opposition platforms, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC) should be strengthening internal democracy through credible primary processes. It emphasized that Nigeria’s electoral framework provides for either consensus or direct primaries, not what it described as “blackmail or imposition.”
The statement also linked the debate to broader national concerns, warning that Nigeria risks deepening security and socioeconomic challenges if the current administration led by Bola Tinubu secures re-election without a strong and united opposition.
It concluded by urging Umeh to refrain from “extra-lawful conduct” and allow due process within party structures, insisting that only a transparent and democratic selection process can produce candidates capable of mounting a credible challenge in the 2027 general elections.
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