He noted that the way the debate is currently shaping up could influence opposition unity and overall electoral competitiveness.…....
Momodu made the remarks during an appearance on Politics Today, where he stressed that political actors in the opposition must focus more on building strategy and reaching consensus rather than concentrating heavily on regional rotation discussions.
He maintained that the priority for any group hoping to challenge the sitting president should be a coordinated approach capable of consolidating support across different zones.
He further stated that, in his assessment, presenting a candidate from the northern region could represent a more effective pathway for the opposition in mounting a serious challenge to Tinubu’s re-election bid.
According to him, such a move could potentially realign political calculations and strengthen the opposition’s bargaining position ahead of the election.
Momodu also emphasized that the northern part of the country remains a significant and influential voting bloc in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He explained that the region’s voting strength, if unified behind a single candidate, has the capacity to significantly shape the outcome of a presidential contest, making it a critical factor in any national political strategy.
He additionally appealed to political figures from the southern region who are interested in contesting the presidency, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
He urged them to consider engaging in urgent discussions aimed at arriving at a consensus arrangement that would prevent the fragmentation of political support within the South.
He also noted that such an arrangement could involve one of the aspirants stepping aside in favour of another candidate capable of consolidating broader backing across the region and beyond.
He maintained that a lack of coordination among southern contenders could weaken their collective strength and reduce their chances in a competitive national race.
He said, “I would suggest that the southern candidates should meet urgently, if possible, and maybe they will withdraw for Jonathan or for Peter Obi.”
