As political momentum builds up ahead of 2027 general elections with realignments, alliances, and coalitions taking center stage on the political landscape, the National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Olu Agunloye, has counseled that such alliances must be built on sound principles and ideology to achieve sustainable development rather than merely winning elections.
In a detailed analysis titled “The Tikanga for Alliances and Coalitions for Good Governance and Life More Abundant,” made available to news men in Abuja on Monday, Dr. Agunloye traced Nigeria’s history of political coalitions.
While highlighting their successes and failures, he pointed out that past alliances such as the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) of 1964 and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013 focused primarily on seizing power rather than implementing long-term national development agenda.
He noted that the first alliance in modern Nigeria, UPGA, and its rival, the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA), were both created out of political expediency rather than shared ideology.
He further explained that similarly, the All Progressives Alliance, APC, which merged multiple parties to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, lacked a strong ideological foundation, saying that a decade later, Nigeria remained plagued by insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, and economic hardship.
Dr. Agunloye emphasized that the failure of previous coalitions stemmed from their lack of clear policy objectives and structured frameworks.
He pointed to the 2018 Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and the 2021 National Consultative Front (NCF) as examples of well-intentioned but ultimately ineffective efforts.
The 36-party CUPP2018 coalition, despite signing a memorandum of understanding to support a joint presidential candidate, did not establish a solid foundation before entering the 2019 elections.
He added that similarly, the NCF, which aimed to create a structured mega-party for the 2023 elections, failed to implement its strategies within the timeframe set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Dr. Agunloye urged political stakeholders to move beyond short-term power struggles and adopt a methodical, principle-based approach to coalition-building.
He stressed that alliances should focus on national security, social justice, and economic prosperity rather than personal political ambitions.
He also argued that coalitions should be structured well in advance of elections, with clear frameworks for leadership selection, policy direction, and campaign strategies.
According to him, alliances should welcome individuals and groups committed to national progress rather than merely serving as a refuge for defecting politicians. More importantly, he insisted that a blueprint for governance should be established before seeking electoral victory to avoid the pitfalls of past coalitions.
Dr. Agunloye suggested that the SDP, under its current leadership, possesses the organizational structure necessary for such an alliance, but emphasized that other political platforms could also serve the purpose.
He believes that Nigeria does not need to reinvent the wheel, as lessons from CUPP2018, NCF2021, and other coalition efforts should guide a new grand alliance for 2027—one that is truly committed to national development and the well-being of Nigerians.
“As the country approaches another election cycle, the question remains whether political leaders will heed his advice or repeat the mistakes of the past”, he said.