By our reporter
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has warned Nigerians not to place their hopes in political coalitions as a path to electoral victory, stating that such arrangements lack legal standing under the country’s electoral laws.
Speaking during the House of Representatives Open Week in Abuja, Akpabio explained that only registered political parties are permitted to sponsor candidates for elective positions in Nigeria. According to him, informal alliances or coalitions, no matter how popular or well-organized, cannot contest elections on their own.
He stated that Nigerians should stop assuming that coalitions or groups of influential individuals can bypass the legal framework set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Coalitions are not recognized by the law to contest elections. Only political parties can sponsor candidates. Nigerians must understand this and stop chasing shadows,” Akpabio said.
His comments appear to address rising public interest in the formation of a “third force” or alternative movement aimed at breaking the dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Akpabio maintained that while political collaboration is welcome, it must be channeled through legal and institutional means. His statement is expected to stir further debate about electoral reforms, including calls for the inclusion of independent candidates and the expansion of political participation beyond the two major parties.
As Nigeria approaches another election cycle, Akpabio’s remarks serve as a reminder that electoral victory in the country is deeply tied to formal political party structures—not informal coalitions or individual movements.
