‘We Won’t Trade Our Ideology’ – PRP Sets Conditions For Opposition Coalition

• The Peoples Redemption Party says it is open to opposition coalition talks ahead of the 2027 elections but insists that no political alliance will make it abandon its ideology, identity or core principles.

• PRP National Chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, says the emerging coalition must offer Nigerians a clearly defined political and policy alternative.

• Baba-Ahmed says about six or seven active opposition parties are currently collaborating, but stresses that trust, caution and a shared programme for tackling insecurity, poverty and national divisions will determine the coalition’s credibility.

• The PRP chairman says the party is prepared to sacrifice its presidential ambition for a stronger opposition platform if necessary, but would walk away if the coalition adopted policies, principles or strategies that violated its core values.

September 16, () – The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has declared that it is willing to participate in the emerging opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, but will not sacrifice its ideology, identity or core principles for the alliance.

National Chairman of the party, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna, as opposition parties intensify consultations on how to build a broader platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

Baba-Ahmed said the PRP was already part of the coalition in principle and believed opposition parties needed to pool their strengths and resources to create a formidable political platform.

He, however, insisted that the coalition must have a clear purpose beyond removing the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration from power.

“We need to tell Nigerians what the coalition is about beyond just replacing the APC government,” he said.

According to him, Nigerians must be presented with concrete answers to the country’s major challenges, particularly insecurity, poverty and the divisions affecting the nation.

He said the coalition would need a clear programme capable of convincing Nigerians that it represented a different political direction and not merely another alliance formed to pursue power.

Baba-Ahmed disclosed that about six or seven active opposition parties were currently collaborating within the emerging coalition, with the possibility of more parties joining the arrangement.

He described the coalition as a “coalition of the willing and the able”, saying its success would depend largely on trust, caution and the ability of its members to work towards common objectives.

The PRP chairman said his party would not support an arrangement that carried political burdens capable of compromising the quality and sincerity of the coalition.

He warned that the party would leave if the alliance eventually adopted policies, principles, identity or strategies inconsistent with the values of the PRP.

“We will walk away if the coalition were to adopt policy, principles, identity or strategy that offends the core values of the PRP,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also said the PRP would not remain part of an arrangement that ultimately became a worse alternative to continuation of the present administration.

The position comes amid efforts by opposition parties to overcome their traditional fragmentation and develop a common platform capable of mounting a serious challenge in the 2027 presidential and legislative elections.

The emerging coalition has attracted political figures and parties from across the opposition, with negotiations expected to focus on the structure of the alliance, its political programme, candidates and the distribution of responsibilities among participating parties.

Baba-Ahmed acknowledged that Nigerians remained sceptical about opposition coalitions because previous political alliances had produced different outcomes.

He said the PRP had studied earlier coalition arrangements and understood that each was shaped by the political circumstances surrounding its formation.

According to him, the 2015 political realignment demonstrated that opposition parties could successfully collaborate under certain circumstances, but the current coalition must learn from previous experiences and respond to present-day realities.

The PRP chairman also defended the party’s relevance despite its lack of access to the financial and institutional resources associated with controlling federal or state governments.

He said the party’s strength remained its ideology, principles, and commitment to poor Nigerians.

“We may not have money to give you to vote for us, and we don’t even want to give you money to vote for us,” he said.

Rather than relying on financial inducements, Baba-Ahmed said the PRP would seek Nigerians’ support through its commitment to changing the country’s development trajectory.

He said the party wanted to play a frontline role in rebuilding Nigeria and creating a safer and more secure future.

Despite its insistence on preserving its identity, Baba-Ahmed said the PRP was prepared to make significant political sacrifices for a stronger opposition platform.

He disclosed that the party could consider sacrificing its presidential ambition if doing so would strengthen opposition collaboration and provide a credible alternative to Nigerians.

However, he stressed that such a decision would only be possible if the terms of the arrangement convinced the party that the sacrifice was worthwhile.

The PRP chairman described the party’s presidential candidate, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, as an “excellent” candidate.

He nevertheless said the party would consider supporting another candidate if a broader arrangement offered a genuine opportunity for stronger opposition cooperation.