Should Nigeria’s opposition candidates present one consensus candidate?

After withdrawing from the race yesterday, Business Day Nigeria reported the following after speaking to Pat Utomi via phone:

Utomi accused the business elite of having the tendency to avoid even their best friends who are running for election if such friends are not incumbents, adding that the only way the opposition could defeat the incumbent under the present situation is through a revolution.

He said at the outset, the main opposition parties namely the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and SDMP had agreed in principle to harmonise their manifestos, saying that all four parties currently have the same manifesto.He said the last stage of collaboration was all the four candidates Nuhu Ribadu (ACN), Muhammadu Buhari (CPC), Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP) and himself were to agree on a sole candidate, stating however, that, that arrangement had taken longer than necessary in being actualised. He said he decided to take the first step in that process by withdrawing from the presidential race.

These are interesting insights. Currently, the opposition candidates votes are split between the main opposition candidates, General Muhammadu Buhari of the CPC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the ACN and Ibrahim Shekarau of the ANPP. However, the opposition vote can possibly be strengthened if all three back a consensus candidate.

Should Nigeria’s opposition candidates present one consensus candidate? Take the poll below and leave a comment about your thoughts on the issue.

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