Mr Daniel Okorie, a former chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that the outcome of the 2027 elections would not hinge solely on party affiliation but a combination of other factors, including viability of candidates.
Okorie, a former Technical Assistant to former Gov. David Umahi on Students Affairs, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abakaliki.
The former aide maintained that the outcome of 2027 general elections would largely depend on how convincingly each party connected with the aspirations of the Nigerian people and sellability of candidates thrown up for a given office.
He dismissed the insinuations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would deploy state apparatus and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate the outcome in its favour.
Okorie, the Founder and President of OO Daniels Foundation cautioned APC against dismissing the emerging coalition of opposition politicians as mere political theatre.
Okorie, a Nigerian-Canadian based estate lawyer, said that the credibility of any opposition coalition lied not in its formation but in the quality of individuals it put forward for leadership.
The legal practitioner noted that past elections had revealed a growing political consciousness among Nigerians, adding that it would be politically unwise to dismiss any coalition as a mere theatre of politicians.
“The credibility of any opposition coalition lies not in its formation but in the quality of individuals it puts forward for leadership.
”Past elections have revealed a growing political consciousness among Nigerians; increasingly, voters are transcending party lines and making decisions based on personal credibility, competence and proven track records of individual candidate.
“I can speak from personal experience; my family and I voted across party lines in the last elections and time has validated those choices.
“It is clear that party loyalty in the absence of substance, no longer carries the weight it once did.
” Nigeria’s political parties are not ideological institutions in the true sense rather, they function more as platforms or vehicles (public vehicles) that can break down at any point and are often abandoned when no longer functional.
“In that context, the threat posed by the emerging coalition will depend significantly on the calibre of candidates they present, the strength of their message and the sincerity of their mission,” Okorie said.
Speaking on the crumbling of the coalition due to ego and lack of shared values, the politician said that the concern was valid and stemmed from an inability to transcend personal ambitions and unify under a common vision.
“However, this time presents a unique opportunity; the increasing level of political consciousness, economic hardships and prevailing insecurity have already done a significant part of the campaign for the opposition.
“If the coalition can mature beyond individual interests and embrace a collective purpose-driven, strategic thinking, it stands a real chance.
“Success will not be automatic; it will depend on their ability to operate with discipline, clear messaging and a genuine commitment to national interest,” he added.
Okorie, one time President of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Students Union Government (SUG) commended the APC under the leadership of Gov. Francis Nwifuru for demonstrating commendable efforts in uniting and mobilising stakeholders.
“His inclusive approach has created a political environment that will be difficult to change, at least at the state level.”
He, however, said that the dynamics at the national level were far more complex and would largely depend on what the opposition coalition brought to the table in terms of vision, unity and integrity.
“While political egos are notoriously difficult to suppress, desperate times often create uncommon alliances.
“As it stands, I believe the coalition remains on a promising trajectory, history could repeat itself in 2027 where a ruling party could lose to an opposition, but sustaining that momentum will require intentional sacrifice and smart political calculus,” he added.
“In any democratic system, power is never permanently guaranteed; it is earned and re-earned through performance, credibility and public trust.
“If the opposition coalition plays its cards right, presents a compelling national vision; and crucially, if the electoral process is transparent and votes genuinely count, then history could repeat itself with a sitting government losing its mandate.”(NAN)
