Otunba Segun Showunmi, a former spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, has unveiled the National Opposition Movement Coalition (NOMC), dubbed “The Alternative.”
According to the politician affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the new movement aims to rescue Nigeria’s democracy by promoting advocacy, education, and civic engagement.
Showunmi said the coalition would not evolve into a political party but would instead serve as a civic platform. The movement’s primary objective is to educate citizens on how democracy and electoral outcomes impact their lives.
He expressed concern about the declining enthusiasm among Nigerian citizens, citing the regression in voter turnout and the disappearance of ideological differences within parties. He lamented that the electoral process has become increasingly compromised, with a focus on individual personalities rather than values and ideology.
To mobilize grassroots support and engage with citizens, the movement has announced a timetable for zonal town hall meetings. These meetings will take place across six geopolitical zones, starting in North Central and concluding in South West by February 2025.
He said, “We have watched the enthusiasm of our citizens wane over the years, with each election proving to be worse than the previous. This has resulted in regression and a downward trend in voter turnout. We have watched with agony as the clear ideological differences within parties have disappeared, making the choices primarily about individual personalities rather than values and ideology.
“Sadly, it is now evolving dangerously into a money-driven, highest-bidder system that compromises the suffrage of the electorate in our beloved country. We have seen the electoral umpire, INEC, improve its guidelines and operational manuals. Yet, rather than an increase in election integrity, what we witness is a progressive lack of integrity and transparency in the electoral process.
“The birth of this movement is necessary to rescue our nation and democracy from the danger we see on the horizon. Respect for the principle of party supremacy is now at an all-time low, and viable opposition to check the activities of the incumbent government is almost non-existent.
“There is an urgent need for a platform to engage political actors, national stakeholders, academia, civil society, the media, political parties, and democratic institutions globally—anyone who can contribute to the wellness and sustainability of our democracy. We have created the ‘National Opposition Movement Coalition.
“This has become necessary as it is clear that those elected to opposition positions have not shown the courage to confront the issues affecting the country and the well-being of the masses.”
He added, “We will embark on advocacy to educate the people on how democracy and electoral outcomes affect them. We will dedicate our time and resources to reorienting citizens and work towards eradicating the menace of vote trading for tokens.
“The consequences of this obnoxious practice of vote trading will be explained through proper education and advocacy. Those who have pilfered our common patrimony, stealing from the country, and persons of questionable wealth cannot seize the reins of power and authority under the guise of democracy. We are proposing an opposition movement that will not lend itself to chaos.
“Nigeria and its citizens cannot be manipulated into crisis by charlatans playing with buzzwords to deceive the public into mob action with its attendant consequences.”
“We have set this noble task for ourselves, knowing the sacrifice required and the trust deficit in the country. We will swiftly embark on zonal town hall meetings to engage the populace and find partners at the state, local government, and ward levels.”
