Presidential hopefuls and opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde, Donald Duke, Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer and Senator Sandy Onor, have commenced fresh consultations aimed at forging a common political front to challenge the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

The consultations, facilitated by the G100, followed its August 2, 2026 open letter to opposition leaders, leaders of thought, civil society organisations and Nigerians of good conscience, in which it unveiled what it called the “Doctrine of Necessary Democratic Opposition.”

The doctrine advocates a credible and competitive opposition capable of providing Nigerians with a viable alternative to the ruling party.

The G100 led by Malam Salihu Lukmam disclosed in a statement on Monday that it had since engaged the leadership of six opposition parties, including presidential candidates, running mates and national chairmen, as part of efforts to build consensus ahead of the elections.

The parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The initiative is coming amid concerns that multiple opposition candidates could split votes and inadvertently strengthen the APC’s chances in 2027.

The G100 said its consultations had revealed a growing recognition among opposition leaders that greater cooperation would be necessary, although no agreement has been reached on a common candidate or the structure of a possible alliance.

The group said the discussions had been deliberately kept away from the media to allow political leaders to speak openly and negotiate without the pressure associated with premature publicity.

It maintained that the process requires trust, compromise and a willingness by political actors to subordinate individual and party interests to a broader national objective.

The consultations are expected to move into a broader phase at the Summit of Opposition Parties scheduled for August 18, 2026, in Abuja.

The meeting is expected to open structured discussions on how participating parties can achieve greater cooperation, coordinate their political activities and develop an effective strategy for the 2027 presidential contest.

The G100 said it would not dictate the outcome of the negotiations or impose a preferred candidate or political structure on the parties.

Rather, it would facilitate dialogue and confidence-building while allowing the participating political blocs to determine whether a coalition, negotiated ticket, single-party platform or another form of electoral cooperation would best serve their interests and those of Nigerians.

The prospect of cooperation has generated particular interest because Atiku and Obi were major contenders in the 2023 presidential election, but contested on separate platforms.

Their possible alignment with other prominent opposition figures could significantly reshape the political calculations ahead of 2027 if the parties succeed in resolving their competing ambitions.

The G100 said the process was also intended to advance the principles contained in the Ibadan Declaration, particularly the call for Nigeria’s opposition to develop a credible pathway towards a united and competitive alternative.

It stressed that the objective should not be limited to defeating the APC but should include presenting Nigerians with a government capable of strengthening democratic accountability and improving governance.

However, the group acknowledged that negotiating the interests of presidential aspirants, party structures and competing political blocs would be difficult.

Issues such as the emergence of candidates, power-sharing, campaign coordination and political concessions are expected to dominate the negotiations, with the G100 warning that achieving a common front would require patience, courage and sacrifice.

“The consultations of the past week represent only the beginning,” the group said, adding that “the task ahead will require patience, courage and, above all, sacrifice.” (Guardian)

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