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Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; renowned lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju; and National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, have condemned recent remarks by Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, against opposition politicians in the country.
The Coalition of United Political Parties also berated the governor who earlier criticised opposition politicians for forming a coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections and for opposing the policies of his government.
In a TVC News interview on Monday, Sani described the opposition’s moves as undemocratic, a statement that triggered reactions from members of the All Progressives Congress and opposition parties.
Sani stated, “I was really surprised when I heard about the coalition of politicians coming together at this critical time to make these comments. Some of them were even calling for people to take the law into their own hands, opposing the government in ways that I believe are undemocratic.”
He continued, “Let me make it clear that we’re in a democratic dispensation, with just about two and a half years until the next election. Any politician who believes they are popular enough or can defeat Bola Ahmed Tinubu or the APC should work hard and present themselves in the next election.”
However, the governor’s remarks were met with strong criticism, particularly from his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, who accused Sani of sycophancy and pandering to President Tinubu for personal gain.
In separate interviews with Saturday PUNCH, Obi and other opposition leaders also fired back at Sani, describing his comments as “anti-democratic” and “unfortunate.”
They said the governor lacked the moral right to condemn coalitions, given that he had benefited from similar political movements in the past.
Obi, who spoke through his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, said while the governor had the right to air his opinion, criticising opposition politicians for exercising their democratic rights was also undemocratic.
He argued that since opposition played a crucial role in a healthy democracy by holding the ruling party accountable and providing alternative perspectives, forming coalitions and criticising policies were essential components of that process.
Obi said, “Rather than viewing these actions as ‘unfortunate’ or ‘undemocratic,’ we should encourage vibrant democratic participation and engagement. This fosters a culture of transparency, accountability, and good governance.
“As we look ahead to the 2027 elections, we urge all stakeholders to prioritise issue-based campaigns, respectful dialogue, and a commitment to democratic principles. By doing so, we can strengthen our democracy and ensure that the will of the people is reflected in the electoral process.”
In his comment, Adeyanju, the human rights activist, also described Sani’s comment as unfounded and anti-democratic, noting that it showed “the governor was speaking from a place of ignorance.”
Similarly, Tanko, the Obidient movement coordinator, said it was unfortunate that Sani and others who came to power through a coalition would be condemning the movement.
“Majority of the people who are already in power today enjoyed the advantage of coalitions with people. It was that coalition that brought them in, even though many of us believed it was a coalition of strange fellows. But at the end of it all, they were able to manipulate themselves into power as the case may be. Now, to hear them questioning the issue of coalition is quite unfortunate,” Tanko said.
He noted that despite Sani’s remark, the issue of coalition would be discussed, whether in a merger or in an alliance ahead of the 2027 general election, vowing that the opposition movement would continue to point out the ills in the current administration.
Also, the National Secretary of CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh, described Governor Sani’s comment as part of APC’s obvious attempt to stifle opposition and limit the democratic space.
He noted that a healthy democracy thrives on the existence of a strong and vibrant opposition, adding that by criticising the opposition’s efforts to form a coalition, the governor has essentially undermined the democratic process.
“Forming coalitions is a legitimate strategy for opposition parties to increase their chances of winning elections. Therefore, Governor Sani’s description of such moves as “undemocratic” is misleading and inaccurate,” Ameh stated.
He added that rather than stifling dissenting voices, governor Sani and the ruling party should focus on delivering good governance and addressing the pressing economic crisis facing the country.
