Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in Nigeria has congratulated Ghana’s president-elect, John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on his landmark electoral victory last Saturday.
 
In a statement, yesterday, the National Secretary, Peter Ameh, noted that the development serves as a wake-up call on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to emplace strategies to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC).
 
In the same vein, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) extended its congratulations to Mahama and urged Nigerians to learn from Ghana’s electoral success, as they await the 2027 general elections.
 
The coalition, along with Nigeria’s opposition lawmakers, described Mahama’s victory as a reaffirmation of the power of opposition, and a powerful endorsement of his vision and leadership by the Ghanaian electorate.  
 
The coalition described the election as a pivotal moment for Ghana and an inspiration for other African democracies striving for transparency, accountability and people-centred governance.
 
According to CUPP, Mahama’s victory is proof of the importance of staying true to democratic ideals and maintaining a genuine connection with the electorate, even as a member of the opposition party.
 
It frowned on some elements within PDP over their display of acts of cowardice and engaging in petty distractions when unity and focus were paramount. This followed recent allegations by some factions in the PDP that CUPP spokesperson and member of the House of Representatives, Ugochinyere Michael Ikeagwuonu (popularly known as Ikenga Ugochinyere), had been suspended from the party.

CUPP described the allegations as baseless, mischievous and indicative of the PDP’s ongoing internal dysfunction, labelling the suspension claim as the desperate act of a fractured party clinging to unproductive schemes instead of addressing its glaring leadership crises and electoral failures.
 
“It is both laughable and pathetic that some elements in the PDP, instead of focusing on rebuilding their party and providing credible opposition, have resorted to peddling falsehood and engaging in smear campaigns. Such cowardly tactics expose their lack of vision and diminish their credibility before Nigerians,” the statement reads.

IN a statement issued by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, James Ezema, in Kaduna yesterday, the CNPP pointed out the need for Nigeria to reclaim its status as a leader in democratic governance in Africa.
 
He said, “The recent victory of Ghana’s president-elect is a testament to the maturity and resilience of Ghana’s democracy. As we celebrate this achievement, we must reflect on the lessons that Nigeria can learn from our West African neighbour.”
 
CNPP insisted that its message underscored the significance of credible elections, a standard that Ghana has set and one that Nigeria previously achieved under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, noting, “It is high time Nigeria reclaimed its position as a beacon of democracy in Africa,  and calling for a renewed commitment to the electoral process.”
 
According to Ezema, central to CNPP’s message is the insistence that “the will of the people must be supreme in Nigeria’s electoral processes.” The group emphasised the necessity of an electoral system that genuinely reflects the wishes of the Nigerian populace, adding, “We must strive to create an environment where elections are free from manipulation, violence and intimidation”. It called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take decisive action to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.