Former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, has publicly confirmed the birth of a new political coalition ahead of 2027 General elections to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Atiku Thursday in Abuja led other political figures in opposition, including former governor Nasir El-rufai, who recently joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, who was represented by Yunusa Tanko, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal.

Other prominent names who took permission from the conference including former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi, former National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, former Governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, among many others.

When asked if the coalition will give birth to a replica of 2013/2014 movement that unseated the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar answered “yes.”

Speaking on the emergency rule declared in Rivers, Atiku, who read a speech on behalf of the coalition, called on both chambers of the National Assembly to  reject the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The coalition also called for the immediate reinstatement of the Rivers State Governor, Deputy Governor, and State Assembly members of Rivers State in the interest of peace and tranquillity in the country.

Arguing that the proclamation was in clear breach of Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), they asserted that the action was not only unlawful but also a clear subversion of democracy and an imposition of autocratic federal control over a duly elected state government.

They maintained that it behooves the National Assembly to stand on the right side of history and not allow itself to be used to legitimise an unconstitutional power grab in Rivers State.

They also called on the judiciary to act swiftly in striking down the proclamation, as it sets a dangerous precedent that could be used to arbitrarily remove any Governor in the future.

The pro-democracy group further called on all Civil Society Organisations, political groups, and Nigerians of good conscience to stand firm in the defense of democracy in the country.

They argued that Rivers state is not a conquered territory, and Nigeria is not a dictatorship requiring the replacement of an elected Governor with a military administrator.