The Democracy Watch Initiative (DWI) has criticised the recently formed opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, arguing that they are not the solution to Nigeria’s political and economic challenges.
In a statement signed by its Director of Strategic Communication, Dr AbdulRazak Ahmed, the pro-democracy group dismissed the coalition’s efforts to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a desperate attempt by failed politicians to regain power.
“Their track record is marred by complicity in decisions that have led to the current state of despair in Nigeria,” Ahmed stated.
“Atiku, el-Rufai, and their coalition are not the answer to our problems; they are part of the system that has failed us time and again.”
The coalition, which was announced during a press conference in Abuja, has brought together several opposition politicians, including former members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who have defected in recent months.
However, the DWI argues that these figures lack the competence and moral authority to lead the country.
The group accused them of failing Nigerians in the past and attempting to rebrand themselves as defenders of democracy.
“Their attempts to repackage themselves as guardians of democracy are nothing more than a thinly veiled ruse aimed at distracting the public from their past failures and the damage they have inflicted on our nation,” the statement read.
The group further criticised Atiku’s political alliances, claiming that his coalition comprises “disgruntled and irrelevant political figures” with no real vision for Nigeria’s future.
It named former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, as one of the prominent figures in what it described as a “shameful display of political theatre.”
“Nigerians are not fooled by their antics. We have witnessed their governance failures, their silence in the face of violence and displacement in the North-West, and their complicity in policies that have exacerbated our economic woes,” the DWI said.
The organisation urged Nigerians to reject the coalition and focus on seeking new leadership that prioritises the welfare of the people over personal ambition.
“It is time for new leadership—one that is genuinely committed to the principles of democracy, accountability, and the welfare of the Nigerian people,” Ahmed added.
