A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has claimed that former governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, is coordinating a seven-man group drawn across opposition parties in a bid to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Galadima made the claim on Thursday while appearing on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, during which he discussed the opposition’s strategy against the president.
The politician said other opposition parties cannot legally produce a single candidate to face Tinubu, arguing that the opposition should instead present multiple candidates and subsequently rally behind one who can defeat the president.
“Technically, legally, other opposition parties cannot produce one single candidate on the ballot to face Tinubu. We have passed that stage,” he said.
“So my idea has always been that we face Tinubu as a hydra-headed snail. And if, a day to the election, we are convinced that Mr A or Mr B is the person that can beat Tinubu, we can just tell our supporters — it’s happening all over the world — to vote for that single person.
“It’s the only way to tackle Tinubu politically and defeat him, and I stand by that.”
The NDC chieftain said he is part of the seven-man opposition group being coordinated by Fayemi, adding that they are making progress.
“I am part of the group of the opposition candidates, seven of us meeting under the coordination of ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state to try to work on that. And we are making progress,” he said.
Asked what the group is working on, Galadima said, “defeating Tinubu”, noting that he does not know Fayemi “to be an active member of the APC”.
“And even with that, there are a lot of ministers and governors who are with Tinubu during the day and with us at night. Tinubu should know that,” he added.
But reacting to the claim, Julius Ogunro, Fayemi’s media aide, said the former minister remains committed to the APC.
Ogunro, according to TheCable, said that Rotimi Amaechi, vice presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also made a similar allegation in August, which was rebuffed by Ahmad Sajoh, head of Fayemi’s media office.
“There’s no truth in that claim. The head of the Fayemi Media Office, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, had earlier responded to such claim. It is not true,” Ogunro said.
Amaechi at the time had claimed that he, alongside Fayemi, began the opposition coalition discussions, and that they later agreed to expand the conversation to include other stakeholders interested in establishing a new political party.
However, in a statement, Sajoh said: “We unequivocally state that these claims lack any basis. Dr Fayemi remains a committed member and leader of the APC in Ekiti State.
“At various public forums in Ekiti and nationwide, he has consistently affirmed his dedication to the APC, working to address its challenges and advance its progressive ideals for Nigeria. Nothing has changed.”
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