Coalition of 39 Nigerian parties commit to beating Muhammadu Buhari in polls
Abuja/Lagos — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari rode to power three years ago on the back of a broad coalition determined to oust the ruling party. Now the West African nation’s opposition parties are planning to use the same manoeuvre to defeat him in February’s general elections. The People’s Democratic Party, which held power for 16 years until its 2015 defeat, signed an agreement with 38 other opposition groups to form the Coalition of United Political Parties on Monday in the capital, Abuja, and back a single candidate against Buhari. Many of his former supporters have deserted him, including former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who is campaigning against his re-election in Africa’s biggest oil producer. "If they can choose one candidate, they do have a coalition that is strong enough to defeat Buhari," said Cheta Nwanze, an analyst at Lagos-based SBM Intelligence risk adivsory. Buhari, a 75-year-old former military ruler, won the presidency on his fourth attempt after several...
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