On Saturday, August 30, 2025, a former presidential candidate, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, was a guest at the monthly Diaspora Dialogues podcast hosted by Professor Farooq Kperogi, Professor Moses Ochonu and Dr. Osmund Agbo on the theme “The State of the Opposition ahead of 2027.” This month’s edition was anchored by Professor Farooq Kperogi.
During the show, Professor Moghalu discussed the prospects and challenges of opposition unity in Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 elections, emphasising the need for a unified candidacy and addressing the country’s democratic and governance issues.
Moghalu proposed a one-term presidency of six years combined with a rotational system where the six zones of Nigeria would have a chance to produce the president, aiming to create national cohesion and improve governance. He suggested that political parties would hold primaries within zones to select candidates, making the system competitive while ensuring equitable representation.
He analysed the current state of Nigerian politics, highlighting the importance of political education, accountability and the need for electoral reform to ensure a fair electoral process, while discussing Nigeria’s economic challenges and the role of diaspora Nigerians in advocating for electoral reforms.
Moghalu attributed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s decision to field its own candidate to pride and regional ambitions, rather than being an appendage of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and highlighted the challenge of ego-driven fragmentation among opposition leaders as a significant obstacle to forming a credible alliance.
Moghalu discussed the nature of Nigerian politics, explaining that it is not a true democracy, but rather a system where politicians compete for power among themselves without meaningful input from the people.
He noted that the opposition’s recent unity, while significant, may not necessarily lead to positive change unless they can develop a clear alternative vision and overcome their own egos.
Moghalu emphasised that the key to Nigeria’s democratic evolution lies in political education of the electorate, particularly the poor and illiterate segments of society, who need to be empowered to demand more from their leaders.
Moghalu discussed the nature of opposition in Nigeria, agreeing with the analysis that opposition often consists of temporarily displaced ruling elites rather than a true opposition.
He acknowledged some positive economic actions by the current government, including stabilizing foreign exchange rates and passing new tax laws that simplify the taxation system.
However, he emphasised that the government’s overall performance, particularly regarding economic hardship and inflation, remains a significant concern for the upcoming 2027 elections.
Moghalu discussed the challenges of Nigerian politics, highlighting how politicians weaponize poverty to maintain power and the need for accountability from political leaders.
He said the opposition’s chances of success depend on presenting a unified candidacy and demonstrating power through civil disobedience and street protests, rather than relying solely on press releases. He noted that while recent by-elections showed strong performance by incumbent candidates, the presence of high-profile opposition figures could still influence future outcomes.
Moghalu discussed the importance of a balance between politicians and technocrats in governance, highlighting former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an example of effective leadership that combined political acumen with respect for expertise. He criticized the current political culture in Nigeria, which prioritizes ethnic and tribal affiliations over competence, leading to a lack of accountability and wasteful governance.
He said citizens must demand better governance outcomes to incentivize politicians to focus on performance rather than electioneering, and he noted the excessive cost of governance in Nigeria, including the misuse of public funds for personal gain.
Moghalu said adapting Nigeria’s democracy to its unique circumstances is crucial for addressing the country’s fundamental challenges, rather than continuing with borrowed concepts that do not fit the local context.
He Moghalu discussed his decision to leave electoral politics after experiencing vote rigging in the 2019 presidential election, saying his votes were stolen due to lack of financial resources to guard polling stations.
He noted that while he remains committed to Nigeria’s progress, he believes diaspora Nigerians have not pushed hard enough for electoral reforms and diaspora voting rights.
Moghalu advised that while nonpartisanship has its place, active participation in political parties is necessary for democracy to thrive, though he personally chose to remain nonpartisan after his electoral experience.
He discussed Nigeria’s economic challenges, emphasizing that while the current administration has achieved some stability in foreign exchange rates, the country’s overall economic transformation remains elusive due to leadership and governance issues.
He argued that true economic progress requires nation-building, focusing on long-term national plans rather than short-term political gains and highlighted the critical need for electricity infrastructure improvements to unlock Nigeria’s economic potential.
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