Seven Nigerian opposition political parties have decided to close ranks for a united front to salvage the nation’s democracy. The parties, including New Nigeria Peoples Party, Young Progressives Party, Zenith Labour Party, African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Allied Movement, and Social Democratic Party, announced the new coalition in Abuja Wednesday at the National Secretariat of the Social Democratic Party.
Tagged, Coalition of Concerned Political Parties, the new political movement said it is worried about the state of democracy in Nigeria, particularly with recent developments in the judiciary. The coalition added that these issues have brought instability to Nigeria’s democracy.
SDP, Shehu Gabam while speaking at the official announcement of the coalition, said “We looked into the issue of the judiciary. The judiciary is the last hope of the common man if it still stands. We are worried about the level of instability the country is going through. If you look at recent developments in Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kano, and Plateau states, it is very clear that the judiciary must exercise extreme caution with some of its decisions.
“The judiciary should strengthen their conviction towards delivering judgments that can stand the test of time. They should not allow we politicians to infiltrate their rank, sanity, and capacity to deliver judgments that are internationally sound and can be recognized.”. Gabam lamented, adding that the coalition is not a merger of the parties.”
On his part, the national chairman of the ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, said the idea behind the coalition “is to strengthen our democracy. We have seen that people in government are trying to stiffen viable opposition.
While the acting National Secretary of the PDP, Setonji Koshoedo, who represented the acting party’s national chairman, Umar Damagum, stated that the coalition will offer a strong opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
