In an interview on Arise TV, Sule Hamma, Director-General of The Buhari Organisation (TBO), provided new insight into the political strategies and behind-the-scenes negotiations that helped reshape Nigeria’s democratic space before the 2015 elections. Hamma discussed the collaborative efforts of several prominent political figures who came together with the aim of challenging the then-dominant People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He recounted how political leaders such as Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, and Orji Kalu began holding discreet meetings to forge a united political front. These meetings, often hosted at Bola Tinubu’s residence in Lagos, spanned over a year and were focused on merging their distinct political groups into a single, strong opposition force.
“Buhari, Tinubu, Atiku, Orji Kalu, and I created a new party to work together and confront the PDP,” he remarked.
Although the early initiative did not result in an immediate merger into one political party, Hamma explained that it laid the foundational groundwork for later alliances. These early collaborations were instrumental in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which would eventually unseat the PDP and alter the course of Nigerian political history.
Hamma emphasized that the goal was not about individual prominence but about building a broad coalition capable of effecting real political change. He noted that such efforts required leaders to set aside personal ambition and work together in the national interest, keeping in mind the demands and expectations of the ordinary Nigerian citizen.
While reflecting on Muhammadu Buhari’s rise, Hamma attributed much of the former president’s popularity to his ability to connect with people at the grassroots level. Buhari’s campaign strategy involved extensive travel to rural communities and local government areas, which helped to build trust and secure mass support across regions.