Factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, and Labour Party have rejected the Ibadan opposition summit, stating it does not represent their official stance. They reaffirmed plans to field separate candidates against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

The PDP National Working Committee, backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, claimed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, former Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Peter Obi (Anambra) and other opposition figures were misled by ‘’impostors’’ who organised the summit.

Also reacting, the two ADC camps of the 2023 ADC presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, led by Kingsley Ogga and Nafiu Gombe, in separate interviews with our correspondents, denied any involvement in the meeting, while the Accord Party warned that it could institute legal action against individuals or groups parading themselves as representatives of the party.

This comes as the Labour Party’s Interim National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, also disassociated the party from the high-profile summit in Ibadan where political leaders agreed to present a single presidential candidate in 2027.

In response, the All Progressives Congress rejected what it called attempts by opposition leaders to exert pressure through blackmail, stating that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, is unfit to hold office over his alleged inciting remarks about “Operation Wetie” during the summit.

After months of internal wrangling and with several court cases still pending, the ADC, led by David Mark, joined forces with the PDP faction aligned with Governor Makinde and other opposition parties in Ibadan, Oyo State, for an opposition summit on Saturday.

Addressing participants as the chief host, Makinde cautioned the Federal Government against suppressing the political will of Nigerians, recalling that the historic ‘Operation We tie’ crisis began in Ibadan.

‘Operation We tie’ was a violent political uprising that took place in Western Nigeria in 1965. It stemmed from a 1962 power struggle within the ruling Action Group party between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, which later escalated following the disputed 1965 elections

In a communique issued after the meeting, the opposition leaders warned the APC-led Federal Government against turning Nigeria into a one-party state, vowing to resist such moves. They announced plans to present a joint presidential candidate against the ruling party in the 2027 election.

Party chairmen who allegedly signed the communique were Mark of the ADC; Tanimu Turaki (SAN) of the PDP, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed of the Peoples Redemption Party; Ajuji Ahmed of the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Cleopas Moses of the National Democratic Coalition; Uche Nnadi of the Action Peoples Party and Mgbudem Maxwell of Accord.

Others included Yusuf Dantalle of the Allied Peoples Movement, Adekunle Omoaje of the Action Alliance, Samuel Memeh, Abdulrahman Abubakar of the Young Progressives Party, Yabagi Sani of the Action Democratic Party, and Dan Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party.

Notable figures at the summit included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Makinde, Obi, Kwankwaso, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

Also present were former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Information Minister Jerry Gana, political economist Pat Utomi and Kashim Ibrahim, among others.

Reacting to the development, the Wike-backed PDP described those who convened the Ibadan opposition summit as impostors, adding that it would field a separate candidate against President Tinubu.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, criticised the Turaki-led PDP leaders who attended the summit.

“Certainly, our party cannot be part of that arrangement, not because we are not open to having alliances and understandings with opposition parties. We all belong to the opposition, and we all aim toward achieving one thing, which is taking over power from the APC. But the people who went there were not representing the PDP.’’

Mohammed explained, “Opposition political parties must ensure they interact with legitimate representatives. The individuals who attended in the PDP’s name are impostors, restricted by court order from acting as party leaders.

‘’For us, as the genuine leaders and leadership of the PDP, we distance ourselves completely from yesterday’s gathering, not because we are not open to having alliances, but because of the way and manner other opposition political parties aligned themselves with the wrong leadership.

“Those who attended were misled. Those people you mentioned cannot and will not represent the PDP in anything. The PDP said it a few weeks ago, even during the inaugural speech of the national chairman, that the PDP has not entered into any negotiation or alliance with any political party, be it the ruling APC or any opposition party.

“We are the leading opposition party today, and if there is any need to convene a summit in the name of opposition political parties, the PDP is meant to take the centre stage. Makinde, not being a member of the PDP, could not have had the legitimacy, authority, or mandate to convoke, convene, and hold such a meeting.”

The publicity secretary maintained that their camp offers the only credible platform through which such an arrangement can be achieved.

“You could see from our timetable that we intend to field a presidential candidate. I do not know what they are really talking about. People who do not have a stable political party are talking about fielding a presidential candidate. Which political party do they intend to adopt in fielding that presidential candidate? Not PDP, and we are not part of it.”

“The PDP provides the only credible platform through which such an arrangement could be done, and the PDP that could do that is the one under the leadership of Abdurahman Muhammad and Senator Samuel Anyanwu.”

On its part, the ADC faction led by Interim National Chairman Ogga, also clarified that it was not involved in the summit, adding that opposition parties should instead focus on resolving their internal challenges.

“I want to make it clear that our group was not part of that opposition summit, and we are not in support of the decisions, either. My group does not support that arrangement. Everybody should be free to find and present their own candidate.

“The alliance aspect may sound good, but that is not what we are supposed to focus on now. Our priority should be to put the party in order because there is a crisis within the party, and that is what we should address first,” he admonished.

Also, the Nafiu Gombe-led faction of the ADC rejected both the summit and its resolutions, insisting the party was neither represented nor bound by its outcome.

The Chief of Staff to the bloc’s national chairman, Bala Kumo, made the position clear in an interview with The PUNCH, stressing that the ADC would pursue its independent electoral path.

He said, “We are not in support of it (a single presidential candidate for the opposition) as the authentic members of the African Democratic Congress. So, whatever resolution was taken in that place, we are not in support of it.

“The ADC is an existing party. It wasn’t registered yesterday, the day before yesterday, last week or last month. ADC has been in existence for almost 20 years. We are fielding a candidate, and Inshallah, all the elective offices at all levels will support it.’’

Continuing, he said, “In my view, the Ibadan Summit can best be described as the reunion of former members of the Peoples Democratic Party, aligning with aggrieved or disgruntled individuals who have been ignored by the party.

“So, for the record, I want to assure you that the African Democratic Congress was not involved in the summit, and should not be linked to any outcome or resolution coming from that summit.”

The Labour Party also denied participating in the Ibadan meeting, signalling a cautious approach to any coalition talks at this stage.

The Interim National Chairman of the party, Nenadi Usman, who spoke through her Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ken Asogwa, stated that the party’s immediate priority remains its internal consolidation rather than external alliances.

“If you observe, you will discover that we are not part of those who went to the Ibadan Summit yesterday. As it stands today, we are focused on getting substantive leadership for the Labour Party in our next convention coming up next Tuesday, April 28.

“That is the position of the party for now. If there is a need for us in future to be in coalition with other political parties, we will inform Nigerians.”

In a related development, the Prof Chris Imumolen-led Accord Party denied any involvement in the decision reached at the summit, insisting that its name and symbol were used without authorisation and warning that it may pursue legal action against those responsible.

Imumolen, in a statement issued by the party’s National Secretary, Muktar Abdallah, described the use of the party’s flag at the summit as ‘’political impersonation rather than a misunderstanding.’’

Reacting, Imumolen clarified that the Accord Party is not part of any coalition with the ADC, PDP, or any allied group, and did not authorise the use of its name, symbol, or platform in any such arrangement.

The statement read, “This is not an oversight; it is a misrepresentation. The Accord Party will not be dragged into alliances it neither negotiated nor approved. What played out in Ibadan raises serious questions about the credibility and transparency of the coalition itself, if it must lean on the identity of parties that are not even at the table.

“The Accord Party remains focused on the 2027 general elections, with a clear ambition to present a presidential candidate under its own banner, not as a footnote in a hastily assembled coalition.

“Prof. Imumolen has therefore issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the conveners and participants of the Ibadan meeting to publicly explain how and why the Accord Party’s identity was used without consent. Failure to do so will trigger immediate legal action against all individuals and groups involved.

“You cannot borrow legitimacy by force. Those responsible must either explain themselves or prepare to defend their actions in court.”

The Accord Party further said it will strongly defend its identity, structure, and independence, and would not accept any attempt to use its platform for political convenience, whether openly or secretly.

Reacting to the utterances at the Ibadan meeting, the APC strongly condemned Governor Makinde over his reference to ‘Operation Wetie,’ accusing him of inciting violence and describing his conduct as unbefitting of the office he occupies.

APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Sunday, noted that Makinde’s violent rhetoric cannot be dismissed as mere opposition posturing, adding that it risks fueling anarchy, murderous rage and widespread lawlessness capable of undermining national stability.

The ruling party described Makinde’s remarks as baseless and senseless, warning that no individual, regardless of status, should be allowed to threaten or endanger the lives and safety of Nigerians or undermine the country’s hard-won democratic governance under the guise of political commentary.

“The All Progressives Congress categorically condemns Governor Makinde’s incitement as reckless and a clear and present threat to peace and national security. It is particularly disturbing for a sitting Governor, who bears constitutional responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of his state, to conjure up one of the darkest episodes of political violence in Nigeria’s history to threaten violence against the people and government of Nigeria.

‘’By his incitement to violence, Makinde has shown himself to be unworthy of the high office of Governor that he occupies. Makinde’s violent rhetoric cannot be dismissed as mere opposition posturing. His statement risks fueling anarchy, murderous rage, and widespread lawlessness capable of undermining national stability. We therefore call on all relevant security and intelligence agencies to take this unfortunate development seriously and act to safeguard lives, property, and defend Nigeria’s democratic order.’’

The APC alleged that the PDP was weakened by former Vice President Atiku’s takeover of its 2023 presidential ticket, which it said violated the party’s rotational zoning arrangement, adding that the Labour Party was allegedly destabilised by former Governor Peter Obi’s frequent party movements in pursuit of a presidential ticket.

It further claimed the ADC collapsed early due to leadership struggles involving the same set of opposition figures, whom it accused of abandoning parties instead of building them, leaving behind disunity within the opposition.

The statement read in part, “At the APC, we are confident that Nigerians are discerning and recognise that a party so grossly unable to manage its own internal affairs cannot be entrusted with the governance of Africa’s most populous and important country.

These opposition leaders and their coalition of confusion have not put forward any alternative vision for Nigeria’s development. All they have in their arsenal is fear-mongering built on false narratives about the APC.’’

Similarly, the Wike-backed PDP, in a statement issued on Sunday by Mohammed, strongly criticised Makinde’s ‘Operation We tie’ remarks.

The statement read, “This disgraceful statement emphatically reiterates that violence has absolutely no place in our political space today. Nigeria must come first, before politics and before personal ambitions. Without a peaceful and stable nation, no political system or democratic process can thrive.

“The PDP therefore calls on all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, to unite in rejecting any rhetoric or action that could incite unrest or threaten national cohesion.

“Our shared history reminds us of the cost of division, and we must remain vigilant in safeguarding the peace we have worked hard to build.

“We further urge security and law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties with diligence and professionalism by reviewing the circumstances surrounding these reports and also ensure that all relevant individuals are available to respond to lawful inquiries, no matter how highly placed.”

The Oyo State APC chapter on Sunday described those who attended the summit as clownish characters who lack the capacity to promote democracy and good governance in the country.

In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party said neither President Tinubu nor anyone in the ruling party would be troubled by the gathering or the actions of opposition figures, who it claimed do not have the seriousness needed to defeat the incumbent president at the polls.

“They are just wasting their time as it is just impossible for them to catch up with a man who is several kilometres ahead of them in a marathon,” the statement added.

Sadare continued, “It is even shameful that Governor Makinde, who has established himself as a naive and deceitful political player, is now the moral compass for some politicians who have recorded irredeemable failures in politics and governance in the past.

“As it stands now, they have gathered only palm fronds to fix a damaged vehicle, even as they look in the direction of fishermen for technical support.

“The ‘Operation We tie’ threat, which came from Gov. Makinde, would not be taken with a pinch of salt as it was a revelation, but he should realise that no unrest or violence will mar the 2027 general elections.’’

In defence of Makinde and the summit, the Turaki-led PDP, in a statement by its publicity scribe, Ememobong, explained that Makinde’s remarks were meant as a caution and advisory to the Federal Government, the APC, and other national institutions about the severe crisis that their actions and inactions could lead to.

“Only a guilty aggressor can interpret it to mean a threat or call to violence. It is common knowledge that those who do not learn from history are doomed by it.

“Governor Makinde offered a sobering reminder that when insatiable political greed and avarice replace patriotism and good governance, and are compounded by the accumulated anger and frustrations of the citizenry, the resultant conflagration will be of immeasurable proportion. This again is a fact that history bears witness to.

“The events that led to the sad incident of ‘we tie’ and the current happenings within the political space, as orchestrated by the APC, are not just similar but identical in both intent and execution. To continue doing the same thing while expecting a different result is the very definition of political recklessness.

“When pushed to the wall, people have no other direction to go but forward, against the wall itself. The current slide into elected totalitarianism has been entirely engineered by the APC and the Federal Government. They cannot decry the effect while remaining wilfully blind to the cause and to their own culpability in it.”

The Turaki-led PDP noted that when the APC was in opposition, it not only issued threats of violence but also openly vowed to make the country ungovernable, using the infamous “baboon and blood” narrative.

It continued, “They therefore lack any moral capacity to complain about a mere historical recollection by a sitting governor.

“As long as the targeted state-sponsored decimation of the opposition continues, the opposition parties will explore increasingly potent strategies, entirely within the ambit of the law, to prevent the enthronement of a one-party state under an elected dictator.

“The APC should be ashamed of its comprehensive failure in both governance and politics, and its resort to the crude tactics of inducement, intimidation, and persecution of opposition leaders.’’ (PUNCH)

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