2027: YPP vice-presidential candidate sets conditions for opposition coalition

Patience Key, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, has said any proposed opposition coalition must be anchored on a clear governance agenda rather than the desire to unseat President Bola Tinubu.

Ms Key, running mate to the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Agada, said opposition parties must establish the objectives, policy direction, and expected benefits of an alliance before considering adopting a common presidential candidate.

In a statement, she said defeating Mr Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima through democratic means was a legitimate political ambition but warned that replacing the current administration without addressing the country’s governance challenges would amount to little more than a change of political leadership.

She argued that sharing opposition to an incumbent president was insufficient grounds for forming an alliance, insisting that prospective coalition partners must demonstrate a common understanding of how they intend to govern.

Ms Key said this should apply equally to all politicians seeking to participate in the proposed arrangement, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Adewole Adebayo, Usman Bugaje, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Omoyele Sowore.

She also said the YPP presidential ticket should be subjected to the same standards, adding that individual political ambitions must not take precedence over national interest.

The YPP candidate further called on politicians who had previously occupied public offices, including governors, ministers, legislators and vice presidents, to account for their records in government.

“Anyone who has served as vice president, governor, minister or legislator must account for that record. What improved? Which institutions became stronger? How were public resources managed?” she said.

According to her, changing political parties or joining a new alliance should not absolve former public office holders of responsibility for their previous decisions and performance.

“Changing parties must not erase responsibility, although each individual’s record must be assessed fairly.”

She urged Nigerians to examine what such politicians achieved while in office, particularly in strengthening public institutions and managing public resources.

Drawing lessons from the 2015 general elections, Ms Key cautioned against assuming that removing an incumbent president would automatically translate into better governance.

She said the election of Muhammadu Buhari after the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan had, in her view, failed to deliver the transformation Nigerians expected.

She warned that the opposition could repeat the same mistake if its coalition-building efforts focused exclusively on defeating Mr Tinubu without presenting a credible alternative.

Ms Key also extended her criticism to political alliances supporting the ruling party, saying such arrangements should equally be assessed based on their contribution to national development rather than access to political power.

Ms Key said any opposition alliance seeking public support must present a written agreement detailing how it intends to address Nigeria’s major challenges.

She listed insecurity, poverty, unemployment, corruption, healthcare, education, teachers’ welfare, electricity and infrastructure among the issues that should form the basis of such an agreement.

She said the document should also specify funding arrangements, implementation responsibilities, timelines and measurable targets through which Nigerians could assess the performance of an incoming administration.

“A coalition worthy of public confidence must begin with a written governing agreement addressing insecurity, poverty, unemployment, corruption, healthcare, education, teachers’ welfare, electricity and infrastructure.

“It must explain funding, implementation responsibilities, timelines and how citizens will measure progress. Candidate selection must be transparent, and partners must accept scrutiny and accountability,” she said.

She further called for transparency in selecting a common presidential candidate, arguing that political partners must be willing to accept public scrutiny and accountability.

On the YPP’s position, Ms Key said she remained committed to the party’s presidential ticket with Mr Agada and its Labour Direct agenda.

She said she supported engagements with other political parties and individuals who shared the objective of building a better government but would not support an alliance that required the party to abandon its principles in exchange for political appointments.

She also rejected what she described as attempts to form coalitions merely to replace existing political leaders with familiar faces.

Ms Key clarified that her position did not represent an announcement of a concluded coalition, noting that any formal political arrangement involving the YPP would have to follow the party’s authorised procedures.

She urged Nigerians to look beyond the prominent politicians involved in emerging alliances and demand clear policy commitments from every prospective candidate.

She said the ultimate objective of political cooperation should be to deliver competent and accountable leadership rather than simply remove an incumbent president.

“Nigeria must not exchange one disappointment for another,” she said, arguing that the country needed political cooperation built around competence, purpose and responsibility.