A new movement, “The Alternative,” led by Otunba Segun Showunmi, convener of the National Opposition Movement Coalition (NOMC), aims to change the way Nigeria elects its next president. Speaking at a town hall meeting in Kano on Thursday, Showunmi announced plans to select a consensus candidate through dialogue among ordinary Nigerians and present the candidate to a political party for onward campaigns.
Showunmi emphasized that the initiative is critical as the country faces challenges that risk turning Nigeria into a failed state. “All we have today are money bag politicians who have suppressed democracy with their stolen wealth,” said Showunmi, a former governorship aspirant in Ogun State.
The town hall meeting in Kano was part of efforts to expand NOMC’s reach after its initial launch in Abuja on November 25, 2024. The movement has since been introduced in Jos, Bauchi, and Kano. Showunmi explained that “The Alternative” is designed to empower citizens to select credible leaders for the 2027 elections.
“The people will dialogue and come up with a consensus candidate,” he said. “We will then take the candidate and present it to a political party as the people’s choice. The people must choose wisely, and this must be ensured as the conversation continues. We must bridge the gap between the government and the governed.”
Showunmi warned Nigerians against vote-buying and the influence of money in politics. “Today’s politicians want to use their money to steal democracy from us to keep us poor. To avoid this in the next election, we are warning Nigerians ahead of time using the platform, The Alternative,” he said.
He added that the movement seeks to prevent the emergence of a one-party state. “Politicians are busy causing trouble in major political parties so we won’t have the opportunity to choose in the next election. Stop shortchanging yourself by selling your vote. Stop trading your destiny for a plate of maize, Indomie, or salt. Politicians are using their money to take democracy away from you, and we are here to prevent it.”
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Hon. Jafaar Sani Bello, a former governorship aspirant in Kano, echoed Showunmi’s sentiments, urging Nigerians to elect leaders based on merit rather than tribal or religious sentiments. “We have been deceived many times based on religion, but this shallow thinking must stop. People can hardly feed and pay bills. This is not the type of country our forefathers fought for,” Bello said.
Saidu Bello, National Coordinator of Atiku Abubakar’s Forum, called on young Nigerians to study the country’s history to make informed decisions in electing future leaders. He stressed the need for a clear political direction to ensure a better Nigeria.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Tariere Fiebai, a member of “The Alternative,” prayed for a better future for Nigeria. “We must work together to ensure the next generation inherits a country we can all be proud of,” she said.
As preparations for the 2027 elections begin, “The Alternative” promises to challenge the status quo, offering Nigerians a new way to select leaders committed to the people’s welfare.