Fresh Tension Over 2027 Alliance As Opposition Groups Push Consensus Candidate

Fresh disagreements have emerged among Nigeria’s opposition parties over plans to forge a common political front ahead of the 2027 presidential election, even as the G-100 group urges leaders to prioritize cooperation over personal and political interests.

The development comes ahead of the Opposition Political Parties Summit scheduled to be held in Abuja, where representatives of six opposition parties are expected to discuss a framework for collaboration ahead of the general elections.

The summit, organised by the G-100, will bring together leaders and key stakeholders from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The group said the meeting, themed “A Framework for Opposition Cooperation and Coordination,” would allow the parties to discuss the principles and structures needed to guide their proposed alliance.

In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, G-100 convener Salihu Lukman appealed to opposition leaders, including presidential candidates, to approach the discussions with the understanding that they would be stronger through cooperation.

The group has been advocating for opposition parties to work together in the 2027 presidential contest, arguing that a united platform could improve their chances of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the prospect of producing a single consensus presidential candidate has generated different reactions among opposition politicians.

National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed suggestions that the summit was primarily aimed at persuading presidential candidates to withdraw from the race in favour of another contender.

The G-100 has been seeking cooperation among prominent opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Seyi Makinde, alongside their respective political platforms.

The proposed alliance also involves the PDP, SDP and PRP, with Adewale Adebayo and Donald Duke identified as presidential candidates of the SDP and PRP respectively. The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives is also listed among those associated with the proposed opposition cooperation.

The push for unity follows an August 2 open letter by the G-100 to opposition parties, presidential candidates, running mates, political leaders and civil society organisations.

In the letter titled “The Doctrine of a Necessary Democratic Opposition,” the group urged opposition leaders to place national interest above individual ambitions.

It argued that greater coordination among the parties could strengthen the opposition ahead of the 2027 election.

With the summit bringing several opposition platforms to the same table, attention is now focused on whether the discussions will produce a workable alliance or expose deeper disagreements over leadership, strategy and the choice of a presidential candidate.