Doubts surround the proposal to select a unified opposition presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, as political parties have varying opinions on this strategy.
This comes after a call from the Group of 100 Nigerians, spearheaded by Salisu Lukman, a former member of the All Progressives Congress. The group is urging opposition candidates and leaders to rally behind one contender against President Bola Tinubu in 2027. They are encouraging influential figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, along with their running mates, to prioritize shared objectives over personal ambitions in order to effectively challenge the APC-led government.
The G-100 asserts that a divided opposition, no matter its size, would find it challenging to overcome the ruling party. They stress the importance of having one candidate to consolidate opposition votes effectively.
Lukman recently announced a summit in Abuja scheduled for August 18, aiming to unite various opposition factions. Nonetheless, certain parties and movements anticipated to join have voiced concerns.
In an interview, Phrank Shaibu, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, suggested that the former Vice President might attend the summit. However, he noted that an official announcement would be made later depending on his schedule.
Shaibu voiced his backing for the G-100 initiative, underscoring Atiku’s ongoing efforts to promote unity among opposition leaders in tackling Nigeria’s issues. He stressed that any unification process must be transparent and inclusive, aiming to select a candidate who can earn public confidence.
Concerning the plan for a unified opposition candidate, the ADC candidate was non-committal. He emphasized that ongoing discussions with political leaders from various opposition parties are crucial at this stage and highlighted the importance of strengthening the opposition to provide Nigerians with a solid alternative to the current administration.
We will share details of these consultations publicly at the appropriate time.
At the same time, the Obidient Movement, which supports Peter Obi of the NDC, announced that he had received an invitation to the summit. However, it is still uncertain whether he will attend. Tanko Yunusa, serving as the National Coordinator for their cause acknowledged the importance of opposition parties working together but could not verify if Atiku and Obi have communicated directly about attending this event.
The Labour Party supported the concept of opposition collaboration but emphasized that any coalition should enhance its current framework instead of creating a new political entity. Ken Asogwa, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, highlighted that their connections with the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress offer them a distinctive organizational edge not easily replicated by other parties.
