Opposition unites behind single candidate plan for 2027 presidential election
Opposition leaders have agreed to present a united front in the 2027 general election, resolving to field a single presidential candidate to challenge Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The decision emerged as a key outcome of a National Summit of Opposition Political Leaders held in Ibadan, Oyo State, where participants met to chart a path through what they described as deepening national challenges.
The summit, themed Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democracy: A National Dialogue, brought together prominent figures across party lines and ended with the adoption of a joint communiqué known as the Ibadan Declaration. Central to the agreement was the need to avoid vote splitting and strengthen the opposition’s electoral prospects.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who hosted the gathering, warned of a gradual erosion of democratic competition, arguing that excessive concentration of power under one party threatens pluralism. He invoked Ibadan’s political history, cautioning against a return to the turbulent “wet e” era.
“Democracy without opposition is not democracy, it is a slow drift towards a one party state,” he said.
Factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Taminu Turaki, described the consensus plan as both strategic and necessary. He said disunity had long undermined opposition efforts, warning that Nigeria is facing what he termed “progressive regression” amid insecurity, economic strain and weakening public confidence in institutions.
“This is not a moment for silence or division, it is a moment for decisive action,” Turaki said.
Former Senate President David Mark framed the initiative as a national rescue mission, insisting that no single party could effectively challenge the current political structure alone.
“We cannot confront the future as fragmented entities. This is the time to rewrite the story of coalition building in Nigeria,” he said.
In the communiqué, opposition parties reaffirmed their resolve to contest the 2027 elections at all levels, rejecting what they described as moves towards a one party state. They also pledged to resist any attempt to reduce the election to a one candidate race, insisting that Nigerians must be offered credible alternatives.
The declaration further raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, with leaders passing a vote of no confidence in Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and calling for his removal from overseeing the 2027 polls.
The summit urged the National Assembly to review contentious provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and called for an extension of party primary deadlines to the end of July 2026. Participants also demanded the release of political actors allegedly detained on bailable offences, stressing the importance of inclusivity and respect for fundamental rights.
Speakers repeatedly warned that Nigeria stands at a critical juncture, urging decisive steps to safeguard democratic institutions and rebuild public trust.
Among those in attendance were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, political economist Pat Utomi and elder statesman Jerry Gana.