• ‘We’ll consolidate our support around one presidential candidate’

Ireti Kingibe is the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the National Assembly. In this interview monitored on Arise Television, she speaks on the worsening economic hardship under the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led administration and the emerging opposition alliance on the aegis of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, among other issues, EVINCE UHUREBOR reports

How did it go in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital during the national summit by leaders of opposition political parties?

I was actually pleased to see the synergy, the alliances and there was this mood of national interests opposed to personal interests and that was not difficult to see. The country has never ever been this way. No electricity; insecurity has never been this bad, food insecurity is at its worst ever, taxes that are completely untenable and more is coming. Even phone calls; you have to dial somebody at least five times before you can actually have one conversation. Everything in the country is melting down. So, it’s not just about whether we want to grab power or not. It’s that everybody is tired and exhausted just from daily living. Now try buying diesel; it is way beyond the common man.

At that summit, the ruling APC was roundly and expectedly accused of trying to impose a one-party state on this country but the APC insists that such claim is pure political alarmism. What is your reaction to that?

For a government that claims to have all the governors with it and also that claims it is the best thing to have happened to this country, why should they care how many parties run against them since they seem to be certain of landslide victory? That’s number one. Number two, the courts have ruled several times that the internal workings of any party, is strictly the business of the party.

So, how is it suddenly now an issue? Thirdly, the National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of parties must be witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). We had a NEC meeting in July. INEC was there, saw the NWC dissolved and we have letters, documentation from them to that effect. In March, they witnessed the next meeting putting in a new NWC. So, we have followed the law to the letter.

Even the convention we had, we insisted on having it on that day because we had given INEC the 21 days notice according to the Electoral Act and they had consented. So, the fact that they didn’t bother to come is their business. We did what we were supposed to do. So, if it’s not because the government is beginning to feel the pulse of the people, why should they care?

The Labour Party in disarray, every little party that raises its head, they find one thing or the other. It is not going to work. In 2027, regardless of parties, it’s the people versus the ruling party. That’s why it’s an alliance.

But isn’t it a fact that Nigerian politicians, by nature or by characterization, are always quarrelling and arguing, especially when that orbit of power is not revolving around them., and it’s only when they get what they want within that orbit of power that they’re forced to calm down?

What I’m trying to say is that the truth of the matter is that if things do not change, what is keeping everybody hanging on is this possibility of hope that maybe things can be different.

But saying that we are in a democracy and there’s only going to be one party in the democracy is not democratic at all. Now, the truth of the matter, I believe that they are trying to eliminate every major opposition party.

That’s the truth. You know it; I know it, everybody knows it. Secondly, if the restive youths who have nothing to look forward to, are allowed to explode, I am sorry, whether it is the APC, ADC, PDP or even LPP will be put in one basket when the country explodes.

At that meeting in Ibadan, the collective opposition also said that they will field a single presidential candidate yet to be agreed on. Basically, the reality is that no single opposition figure can win alone. Is that the idea?

Not necessarily, but it’s just the same way in 2015, when everybody decided to gang up basically against Goodluck Jonathan. The time has come where we are going to put aside talks about my party is going to get 2,000 votes and your party is going to get 5,000 votes.

We don’t want that. We want to consolidate all our support and our votes around one presidential candidate. In 2015, the country was in not such a bad state. Things are really bad now. Worse than you can even imagine.

Somebody was mentioning the fact that under the Electoral Act, all these parties cannot collectively field one presidential candidate, that each has to choose its own candidate…

No, they don’t have to. Suppose let us say you pick a presidential candidate. Obviously, that presidential candidate must come from one party. Then all the others will not field and just support. We do that many times, even when it’s not an alliance per se. There’s no law that says that parties must field candidates. They may field if they wish for any position, but it’s not mandatory.

What would be the process to choose that person?

Obviously, the candidate must come from one party. It can’t be half from yours and half from mine. But it will be one set of candidates from a particular party. That’s what’s going to happen.

You’ve got figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi and Aminu Tambuwal in the mix. If you fail ti agree on a candidate; will the entire alliance collapse under its own ambition?

Don’t worry; we will agree on a candidate. You know, dire situations call for serious solutions. We will agree.

Members of the ruling party believe that there’s bound to be chaos over choice of a presidential candidate by the ADC. Is that what their intention is?

Well, the truth is that if there’s chaos in the country, it will affect them just as much as anybody else. Also, the truth is that they cannot fail to see how close to the brink we are.

Just the other day, when the INEC first derecognised the leaders, so to speak, every day, there were more and more and more young people on the streets. The first day, they were mostly on the streets in front of INEC’s office. By the third day, they had spilled over several streets. They were already on IBB way.

And somebody said to me, where are they all coming from? On a weekday, do they not have work? I said: What jobs did you give them? They do not have jobs. They have no future. They have nothing. And things are different and I can see that they’re different. Some nights, I do not sleep from worrying about where we’re all headed. And it’s nowhere good.

The leadership of this country should see that things are not right. Seventy per cent or more of our population is under 35 years. What are the plans for them? Nothing! We, the older, more affluent ones, are struggling. I don’t know about you. Is it about diesel or fuel and all that? Tell me.

Even for those earning N100,000; where do they start from? Some people in my office will say, Madam, we can’t come to work; can we stagger who comes to work, what days and how? And these are the ones, who even have jobs. Things are not good. The cost of food is phenomenal. I can show you my phone; people just begging, saying: Don’t give me money, just give me food. Things are not good.

Looking at what emerged from that Ibadan meeting; you also called for the resignation of the INEC chairman. Why should this be seen as a principled call rather than one that is politically convenient?

I mean, if the same chairman were to conduct an election and you win, would your position still be the same? That particular chairman is already showing that he is not unbiased. Don’t get me wrong. I was one of the people who believed that he would, in spite of his inexperience that he might make a good chairman because I know him personally.

But there are so many things that are turning up. You witnessed everything. The courts had ruled previously, when other interested persons had gone to court to say, we’re the correct rightful leaders of ADC and the courts ruled that who the leaders of ADC are, it’s not anybody’s business. Before you can even say, Jack, he’s already derecognising them. That shows that there’s something underneath.

You’re also asking the National Assembly to urgently amend the Electoral Act. Just remind us of what specific provisions you’re targeting and how they disadvantage you and why didn’t you raise that?

I mean, you’re in the National Assembly but you didn’t raise that… I can show you the documents I have. In what election have we ever conducted, where INEC ballot papers did not have security measures and that you can bring any type of ballot paper and vote with it? It has never happened. So, when somebody was mentioning that to me, I said I didn’t see that part. It couldn’t have been there.

I was on the committee on Electoral Reforms. For two years, we worked on a document that was acceptable. We did a bicameral sitting, so it was not just the Senate. The Senate and the House of sat as well as with INEC and some CSOs and came up with a document that we felt would give us free and fair elections but every aspect of it was turned upside down.

Many of the individuals in this alliance have governed Nigeria before at the centre or at the sub-national level. Why should those people be trusted to safeguard the country now because some would argue that the problems you’re pointing out today were created under governments many of you were part of?

But there are also many people like me, who are empathic to the people. Yes, there are a few people there that just because they’re supporting the party does not necessarily mean that they’re going to lead the party or lead government if it’s formed. Every Nigerian has a stake in Nigeria.

All we are asking for is democracy, not a one-party state. Every Nigerian has a stake in Nigeria. Yes, there are some bad ones. There are some good ones in our party. Just the same way, this APC that’s oppressive to Nigerians and not caring and not empathic to their needs have good people in them as well as bad ones.

Somebody described Nigerian politicians as a storm incapable of giving anything but destruction based on history. I know they’re not all the same, but I’m trying to find a reason why people should repose greater confidence in the ADC because many Nigerians will say that you’re all the same…

My party has got a constitution that is a little different by actually putting into the constitution more female inclusion, not just saying it, but demanding it. Yes, there may be bad people in the party, but we’re trying to create a somewhat better Nigeria.

ADC has never held office or governance before. APC has through Muhammadu Buhari and it was not so good but through President Bola Tinubu it’s really terrible.

Beyond removing the APC, what is the shared ideological foundation of this alliance?

What binds you beyond the desire to win power? No, it’s not about the desire to win power. The desire to save democracy, it’s what binds the alliance. For all these different parties to decide that they want to work together is because they can see that our democracy is in great peril. It’s like when you are in any situation, you will keep trying, this doesn’t work, you try another one, it doesn’t work.

That’s what the Nigerian people are going to keep doing until they find what works. As you did say, yes, the people who get the short end of the stick always are the people, especially the youth of this country, they get the short end of the stick, and the women get the short end of the stick.

But what are they going to do, lie down and die? No, they’re still going to be hopeful that, okay, this isn’t working, let’s try that one. That’s the truth. And I know that, yes, there are some characters in our party that are questionable, but there are also many that are not, many who are willing to put aside personal interests for national interests. So, we are going to go ahead to field candidates and try and save this democracy.