Opposition Parties Begin Talks to Unite Ahead of 2027, Atiku, Obi, Makinde Absent

By Nafiu Muhammad Lema

Leaders of six major opposition political parties have begun discussions on a possible framework for cooperation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with prominent opposition figures Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde absent from the inaugural summit in Abuja.

The summit, organised with the support of the G100, was held on Monday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre and brought together national party leaders, presidential candidates, members of National Working Committees (NWC) and Boards of Trustees (BoT), as well as members of the House of Representatives Minority Caucus.

Among those present were the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo; the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke; and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Musa Daura.

G100 Proposes Four-Year Transition Government
In his opening remarks, G100 representative Salihu Moh. Lukman presented a proposal for a Government of National Competence to be established through a single four-year transition term.

Lukman said the proposal was designed to provide a framework for cooperation among opposition parties based on competence, integrity, inclusion and fair representation.

He said the proposed arrangement should be backed by an enforceable Transition Charter to ensure that commitments made by participating parties could not easily be abandoned.

According to him, the opposition must move beyond political promises and establish agreements with clear consequences for non-compliance.

Lukman also pointed to the 2023 presidential election as evidence of the consequences of opposition fragmentation, noting that votes secured by major opposition candidates exceeded those of the eventual winner but were divided among different candidates.

He argued that the experience demonstrated the importance of strategic cooperation rather than allowing individual ambitions to weaken the opposition.

Three Committees, Five Working Groups Proposed
The G100 proposed the establishment of three committees to coordinate the opposition cooperation process.

They include a Central Leadership Committee made up of national chairmen, national secretaries and presidential and vice-presidential candidates; a Publicity and Communication Committee; and a Legal Committee.

Five working groups are also expected to prepare documents within four weeks covering a National Covenant for Democratic Renewal, Single-Term Transition Charter, National Reform Programme, Framework for Opposition Unity and a Roadmap to a Common Presidential Candidate.
The documents are expected to be considered at a second opposition summit.

Lukman stressed that the meeting was not intended to compel any party to dissolve or merge, nor was it designed to force any presidential candidate to withdraw from the race.

He said the immediate objective was to establish a framework within which participating parties could later negotiate their positions.

Reps Minority Caucus Backs Opposition Cooperation
Leader of the House of Representatives Minority Caucus, Hon. Fred Agbedi, said the caucus had partnered with the G100 to help opposition parties coordinate their efforts ahead of the 2027 election.

Agbedi urged opposition leaders to put personal ambitions aside and work towards a common objective, warning that another fragmented contest could produce an outcome similar to 2023.

He cited the 2015 election, when opposition parties came together under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defeated the then-ruling party, as an example that could be replicated.

PRP presidential candidate Donald Duke also pledged to withdraw his personal ambition if necessary and support a candidate jointly selected by the participating parties.

He said political ego had repeatedly prevented opposition parties from achieving electoral victory.

Party Leaders Express Support
Speaking for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), its South-South National Vice Chairman, Usani Uguru Usani, expressed optimism about the coalition initiative but warned opposition parties against attacking one another.

He urged the parties to focus their energy on their common political objective instead of internal disagreements.
APM National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, described the summit as a significant moment in Nigeria’s political history and called on the parties to place national interest above individual ambitions.

Representing the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Niger State Governor and BoT Secretary, Dr Babangida Aliyu, commended the initiative and called for similar meetings at state and local government levels.

PRP National Chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, described the gathering as historic and said participating parties were facing significant challenges, including litigation.

He nevertheless expressed confidence that the opposition would continue working towards defeating the ruling government in 2027.
SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, also pledged his party’s commitment to the coalition process and urged the participating parties to honour existing agreements on opposition cooperation.

NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, who spoke on behalf of his party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, endorsed the initiative, describing cooperation among opposition parties as necessary to address what he called the country’s current difficult situation.

Six Parties Adopt Joint Communiqué
At the conclusion of the summit, the six participating parties adopted a joint communiqué committing themselves to a structured negotiation process for opposition cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.

The parties formally approved the three committees proposed by the G100 and agreed to establish the five working groups expected to submit their reports within four weeks.

A second summit will subsequently be convened, with its date and venue to be determined by the Central Leadership Committee.

The parties also resolved to communicate their position to the ECOWAS Commission and reiterated that the G100 would remain only a facilitator and observer in the process, leaving political decisions to the participating parties.

The communiqué further called on the United States Government to ensure the lawful and timely disclosure of non-exempt official records concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that are relevant to legitimate public interest, while stressing that the request did not amount to an allegation of wrongdoing or presume the contents of undisclosed records.