ABUJA – Otunba Segun Showunmi, former spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, has launched the National Opposition Movement Coalition (NOMC), also known as ‘The Alternative,’ aimed at reviving Nigeria’s democracy.

The movement seeks to address the erosion of electoral integrity, lack of ideological direction in political parties, and declining voter confidence in the country.

Showunmi, while briefing journalists in Abuja on Monday at the unveiling of the movement, highlighted the urgent need for a credible opposition to counterbalance government activities and restore citizens’ faith in democratic processes.

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He emphasized that the coalition would not evolve into a political party but would serve as a civic platform to engage political actors, national stakeholders, civil society, and democratic institutions.

He explained that the movement plans to focus on advocacy and voter education to combat vote trading, a practice Showunmi described as a ‘highest bidder heist’ undermining Nigeria’s democratic values.

The movement will also work towards reorienting citizens on the consequences of electing individuals with questionable wealth or integrity into leadership positions.

According to Showunmi, Nigeria’s political landscape has regressed significantly, with elections becoming progressively less credible despite improvements in guidelines by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He also criticized the judiciary’s declining integrity and the increasing role of violence and non-state actors in the electoral process.

The coalition also announced a timetable for zonal town hall meetings starting in December 2024 to engage with citizens and mobilize grassroots support. These meetings will take place across six geopolitical zones, beginning in North Central and concluding in Southwest by February 2025.

Showunmi said, “Nigeria’s democracy has come a long way since 1999. We have made some progress with multi-party democracy. We have successfully achieved the transfer of power from one party to another in 2015.

“However, 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 loop in terms of turnout on election day.

“We have watched with agony as the clear ideological differences within parties have disappeared, making the choices first about individual personalities and less about values and ideology. Sadly now, it is evolving dangerously to just money in highest bidder heist of the suffrage of the electorate in our beloved country.

“We have watched the electoral umpire, INEC, improve its guidelines and operational manual. Yet rather than an increase in election integrity, what we see is a progressive lack of integrity and transparency in the electoral process.

“The judiciary of our country has not been spared as we have observed an unacceptable and dangerous erosion of the integrity of judicial institutions, which ordinarily should provide balance, checkmating institutions of government and protecting the state from a complete collapse.

“The reason for the birth of this movement is the need to rescue our nation and democracy from the danger we see on the horizon.

“Far from looking to evolve into a political party, we seek to engage Nigerians and offer guidance on the issues of opposition. We will embark on advocacy to educate the people on how democracy and electoral outcomes affect them.

“We shall spend our time and resources on the reorientation of citizens. We shall work towards eradicating the menace of trading in votes for a token. Consequences of the obnoxious practice of trading in votes will be explained through proper education and advocacy.

“The march has begun. We are extending our hands in partnership and collaboration to all Nigerians desirous of a vibrant opposition as well as transparent, credible democratic and electoral processes.”