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Monday, January 12, 2026

2027: Choose right leadership over cartel politics, ex-presidential aspirant urges Nigerians

Mr Ofure-Key also called on Nigerians to reject vote-buying and cartel politics, as well as religious and ethnic manipulations.

• January 12, 2026
Patience Ofure-Key
Patience Ofure-Key [Credit: Premium Times]

A former Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential aspirant, Patience Ofure-Key, has urged Nigerians to choose credible leadership over cartel politics and political entertainment to avoid surrendering the country’s future to opportunistic politics in 2027.

Ms Ofure-Key also called on Nigerians to reject vote-buying and cartel politics, as well as religious and ethnic manipulations.

The 2023 presidential aspirant, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the 2027 elections should be about choosing credible leadership rather than recycling political parties and familiar faces.

She noted that the recent defections into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the coalition talks around ADC were reflections of power positioning, warning that slogans and alliances would not rescue Nigeria.

According to her, politicians who abandon their platforms overnight signal weak conviction and opportunism, reinforcing a history where politics serves personal survival rather than public service.

Ms Ofure-Key cautioned that emerging coalitions dominated by familiar faces might not guarantee reform, stressing that new platforms without conscience often reproduce old governance failures.

“Coalitions do not automatically mean reform. A new vehicle without a new conscience can still deliver old failures.

“Nigerians should not be pressured into following arrangements that are not anchored on accountability, competence, and a people-centered agenda,” she said.

The former presidential aspirant stressed the need for Nigerians not to follow political parties blindly, emphasising that logos, money, propaganda, or sweet promises would not replace visionary, competent, compassionate, and people-centered leadership for Nigeria.

“Nigerians are tired, tired of being told who to vote for, what to think, what party to follow by the same political elites who have been part of Nigeria’s governance failures, while the people carry the burden.

“We are tired of a system that rewards opportunism and punishes integrity. We are tired of being divided by religion, ethnicity, gender, and partisan labels, while insecurity, hardship, unemployment, and hopelessness continue to spread,” she stated.

According to the PRP chieftain, Nigerians are tired of manipulation, money politics, and the elites who dictate choices, while insecurity, hardship, unemployment, and hopelessness continue spreading nationwide.

While emphasising that Nigeria belongs to its people, Ms Ofure-Key enjoined citizens to organise, participate, protect their votes, and choose leaders based on character, competence, compassion, and vision.

(NAN)

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