By Mubarak Gana

The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Patience Ndidi Key, has urged political parties seeking coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections to prioritise interest of Nigerians over the mere objective of removing President Bola Tinubu.

Key made the call in a statement on Friday, saying that political cooperation must be anchored on a clear governing programme rather than a shared opposition to the incumbent administration.

She said that although removing Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima through the ballot box is a legitimate democratic objective, replacing them without improving the quality of governance would offer Nigerians little.

“ A common opponent is not a common governing programme,” she said.

Key said that all presidential aspirants seeking to lead any coalition, including Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Adewole Adebayo, Usman Bugaje, Seyi Makinde and Omoyele Sowore, must be subjected to the same standards of accountability.

She said that individuals,  who had previously served as vice-presidents, governors, ministers or legislators must be assessed based on their records in public office.

According to her, changing political parties should not erase responsibility for past performances, adding that every aspirant must demonstrate how their previous positions contributed to improving governance.

The YPP vice-presidential candidate recalled the 2015 general elections, saying that the removal of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the election of Muhammadu Buhari did not, in her assessment, deliver the transformation Nigerians expected.

She cautioned against repeating what she described as the assumption that removing an incumbent government was sufficient preparation for effective leadership.

Key said that any credible coalition must be built around a written governing agreement addressing insecurity, poverty, unemployment, corruption, healthcare, education, teachers’ welfare, electricity and infrastructure.

She added that such an agreement must clearly outline funding arrangements, implementation responsibilities, timelines and measurable targets for assessing performance.

She also called for transparency in the selection of candidates, insisting that all coalition partners must be prepared to accept public scrutiny and accountability.

Key reaffirmed her commitment to the Agada-Key presidential ticket and the LabourDirect agenda of the party’s presidential candidate, Dr. Peter Ada Agada.

She said she supported dialogue with political parties and individuals genuinely committed to building a better government but would not support abandoning the party’s principles for political positions.

She stressed that any formal coalition arrangement must follow the authorised processes of the party, clarifying that her position did not amount to an announcement of a concluded coalition.

Key urged Nigerians to look beyond prominent political figures and demand credible programmes from all candidates, including those of the YPP.

She said the country’s objective should go beyond defeating an incumbent president to delivering a government capable of meeting the expectations of Nigerians.(NAN)

MIG/CHOM

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma