A former member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, has described the inclusion of prominent opposition politicians in President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council as a welcome development and a demonstration of democratic collaboration.

The APC had on October 13 named Nyesom Wike, Governor Ademola Adeleke and Governor Chukwuma Soludo as state campaign coordinators in its expanded presidential campaign council for the 2027 general election, despite their affiliations with other political parties.

Wike belongs to the PDP, Soludo is a member of the APGA, while Adeleke won re-election as Osun governor in 2026 under the Accord Party.

In a statement he signed on Friday, Onuigbo said the appointment of Wike, Soludo and Osun State Governor reflected their support for the Tinubu administration and its policies.

Onuigbo, who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency in the 8th and 9th National Assemblies, maintained that democracy should transcend partisan boundaries when the objective is good governance and better living conditions for citizens.

He said political affiliations need not stand in the way of cooperation for national progress

“The inclusion of prominent opposition politicians in President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council is a welcome development and a demonstration of democratic collaboration. Their appointments are a product of democratic alliance and shared commitment to effective governance, national development and the overall welfare of Nigerians.

“Democracy is a system of government that does not use force of the barrel or the gun, but applies consensus and understanding.

“The bottom line is having a good government that works to provide the highest happiness for the highest number of people, which Wike and others have seen and aligned with,” he said.

The APC chieftain also commended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, citing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the harmonisation of exchange rates, the removal of fuel subsidy and the establishment of the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation.

He said the subsidy removal had increased resources available to federal and subnational governments for infrastructure and essential services.

“Tinubu has placed Nigeria on the path of prosperity with an increase in GDP, where the GDP is now out-pacing the nation’s population growth rate.

“From refining 30,000 barrels of oil per day in 2023, Nigeria now refines over 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

“Nigeria’s foreign reserves have now hit over 58.1 billion dollars from 3.9 billion dollars in 2023,” he added.

Expressing confidence in the President’s leadership, Onuigbo said re-election would allow the administration to consolidate ongoing reforms and strengthen Nigeria’s standing internationally.

He also commended Tinubu and Wike for infrastructure development in Abuja, saying the projects were helping to address longstanding deficits in the nation’s capital.

Onuigbo reaffirmed the importance of policies and partnerships that promote good governance, economic growth and improved living standards for Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation.

—By Solomon Odeniyi