Moghalu Urges Opposition To Embrace Protests Over Press Statements

Former presidential candidate and political economist Kingsley Moghalu has urged Nigeria’s opposition leaders to stop relying on press releases and instead embrace civil disobedience and mass action if they want to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

He gave this advice on August 30, 2025, while speaking on the Diaspora Dialogues podcast, hosted by Farooq Kperogi, Moses Ochonu, and Osmund Agbo.

Moghalu warned that opposition parties will struggle to defeat the APC if they continue to act in isolation. He argued that only a coalition strong enough to rival the ruling party could shift the political balance. He estimated that the chances of unity stood between 70 and 75 percent but cautioned that ego clashes and regional ambitions, especially within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), remained the biggest obstacles.

He argued that electoral success cannot be achieved through media statements and called for coordinated protests and civil disobedience as a show of strength. According to him, street movements would demonstrate seriousness and force the government to take opposition voices more seriously than press conferences ever could.

Moghalu also noted that recent by-elections had mostly favored incumbents, but insisted that high-profile opposition figures could still change outcomes if they work together. He stressed that the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would play a decisive role in 2027, warning that without reforms to strengthen its independence, the elections could be compromised.

On governance, Moghalu renewed his call for constitutional reforms, including a one-term, six-year rotational presidency that would allow each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to produce a president in turn. He argued that this would promote fairness, reduce ethnic tension, and cut down the high cost of governance. He suggested that political parties should conduct zonal primaries to select candidates, ensuring competition within regions while guaranteeing national balance.

He also criticised Nigeria’s democracy as a system dominated by elites competing for power, with little input from ordinary citizens. He accused politicians of weaponising poverty to keep people under control while mismanaging public funds and inflating the cost of governance. He said the culture of ethnic loyalty continues to overshadow competence, leaving citizens disempowered.

On the economy, Moghalu acknowledged recent government efforts to stabilise the naira and simplify taxes but faulted the administration’s record on inflation and rising living costs. He said genuine transformation would only come through long-term planning and urgent investment in electricity infrastructure.

He further called on Nigerians in the diaspora to push harder for reforms, including the right to vote from abroad, insisting that democratic progress requires pressure both at home and internationally.

Reflecting on his own political journey, Moghalu recalled how his 2019 presidential bid fell victim to vote rigging, partly because he lacked the resources to protect his votes. He said that experience led him to step back from partisan politics, though he remains committed to Nigeria’s future. While he now operates outside party structures, he advised that active political participation remains essential for democracy to thrive.