By Chinelo Obogo
Ahead of the 2023 election, six United Kingdom-based groups under the aegis of the Nigerian Democratic Movement (NDM) have said they will mobilise other organisations to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
The groups; June 12 Movement, Nigerian Democratic Movement (NDM), Democratic League, National Conscience Party, Oduduwa Movement UK, Nigerian Project (UK) met in London recently and agreed to form a coalition to ensure the elections are free and fair and for Tinubu to emerge victorious.
The coalition called for tolerance among supporters of presidential candidates to avoid heating up the polity which could lead to crisis during the next elections.
The NDM Director of Media and Publicity, Dupe Ashama, said the coalition was one of the pro-democracy organisations in the diaspora that fought against the annulment of the June 12 poll and was the largest organisation in the UK that hosted meetings of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) abroad and worked with others, leading to the enthronement civil rule after the death of Chief Moshood Abiola.
The coalition vowed to protect the rights of every Nigerian to free expression and choice “as long as
it does not encroach on other people’s rights.”
It said it will mount a campaign against incitement, defamation and political threats.
“NDM will mobilise locally and internationally for a presidential candidate chosen and supported by the group and defend the rights of other Nigerians to choose their own candidates without harassment or intimidation.
“After reviewing the experience and chances of each of the presidential candidates, we have resolved to put our collective weight and support behind the Tinubu and Kashim Shetima ticket.
“Apart from being former pro democracy colleague in the fight for democracy, we consider Tinubu’s knowledge, pedigree and experience as very crucial to take Nigeria to the next level.
“We have agreed to mobilise other former pro-democracy reformers, eminent statesmen and experienced political scientists around the world to come up with programmes that will bring Nigeria out of the woods.
“These plans and programmes will be presented to Tinubu’s presidential team at the appropriate time,” Ashama said.
Signatories to the statement are the convener, Bimbo Folayan(June 12 Movement), the Chairman, Dr. John Filani, General Secretary, Babajide Aminu, Ashama and Director of Mobilisation (North): Shehu Tifin (Nigerian Project).