Former Benue State governor and senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gabriel Suswam, has said the opposition coalition being formed ahead of the 2027 general elections will be strong enough to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on a news programme, Suswam said many Nigerians are unhappy with the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, and the planned coalition aims to tap into that frustration.
“This government’s economic policies are hurting every Nigerian. If I were in APC, I would be worried,” Suswam said.
He compared the current situation to 2015, when the then-ruling PDP dismissed the strength of the APC coalition—only for the APC to win the election. He said President Tinubu’s recent remarks describing coalition leaders as “internally displaced politicians” were similar to the PDP’s past underestimations.
Suswam warned that APC should take the coalition seriously, especially as some of its members are already showing interest in joining the new alliance.
When asked about his personal plans, Suswam said he is disappointed with the state of the PDP and might consider joining the coalition if it offers a solid platform.
“The PDP has been in crisis for over two years now. I don’t think it can resolve its internal problems before the 2027 elections,” he said. “I want to run for office, and I can’t wait around for a party that can’t unite itself.”
He added that if given the chance, he would focus on reconciliation within the PDP by engaging aggrieved members and addressing their concerns.
Suswam’s comments come at a time when opposition parties are reportedly in talks to form a united front ahead of the next elections, with the goal of challenging the dominance of the APC, which has been in power since 2015.
