2027: Panic in Tinubu’s camp as ADC, PDP, NDC, 3 others agree on single-candidate, form alliance against APC
By KEMI KASUMU
The resolution is contained in a communique presented by the Spokesman of the House of Representatives Minority Caucus, Victor Ogene.
There was palpable tension within the Renewed Hope camp of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday when the news broke out that the G-100 Summit held in Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday August 31, 2026 – to forge the way forward for opposition ahead of 2027 presidential election in the country – had agreed to form alliance against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) .
This was as six opposition political parties, which were involved in the arrangement, began moves to form a structured alliance aimed at challenging the APC and the development has been described as sparking shocks with the camo of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite having over 30 state governors with them.
The parties — the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) — reached the agreement at the G100 First Summit of opposition political leaders and stakeholders in Abuja.
The summit, themed “A National Covenant for Democratic Renewal,” brought together presidential candidates, national chairmen, principal officers and members of the National Executive Councils of the participating parties.
At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to enter into a structured negotiation process to develop a common framework for opposition cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The resolution is contained in a communique presented by the Spokesman of the House of Representatives Minority Caucus, Victor Ogene.
The parties also agreed to establish three standing coalition organs — the Central Leadership Committee, Publicity and Communication Committee, and Legal Committee — to provide political direction, coordinate joint activities and handle communication, legal and constitutional issues.
Five working groups were also approved, with each party expected to nominate one representative to each group.
The groups have been given four weeks to prepare proposals for a National Covenant for Democratic Renewal, Single-Term Transition Charter, National Reform Programme, Framework for Opposition Unity and a roadmap towards producing a common presidential candidate.
The opposition leaders said the worsening security situation, rising cost of living, unemployment and shrinking economic opportunities had made political cooperation beyond individual party interests imperative.
Demand Tinubu records disclosure
The opposition coalition also called on the United States to ensure the lawful disclosure of non-exempt official records concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that are considered to be in the legitimate public interest.
The G100 said its demand was not an allegation or finding of wrongdoing against the President.
Presenting the communique, Ogene said transparency concerning individuals occupying the highest offices in the country was essential to democratic legitimacy and public confidence.
He referred to ongoing Freedom of Information Act proceedings before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, saying Nigerians were entitled to “the fullest clarity that the law permits” regarding matters concerning the integrity and credibility of the Presidency.
The coalition said it would formally communicate its position to the ECOWAS Commission and relevant Community institutions, seeking diplomatic and institutional support for transparency and lawful disclosure.
‘Remove APC, but salvage Nigeria’
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Fred Agbedi, backed the coalition initiative, saying the opposition must unite if it wants to defeat the APC.
Agbedi, however, said the objective should not merely be to remove the ruling party from power but to rescue the country from hardship.
“We want to streamline our ambitions and ensure that we take this government out. Not just take this government out, but salvage Nigeria,” he said.
He urged opposition parties to abandon individual ambitions at the early stage of the negotiations, insisting that no candidate should be regarded as the preferred choice before the coalition’s framework is agreed.
“There is no issue of preferred candidates. There is no issue of one we love more than the other. But there is strength in unity,” Agbedi said.
He cited the 2015 election, when opposition parties united to defeat a sitting government, arguing that a similar strategy could be deployed in 2027.
“Some will say it’s late, but we feel it’s better late than never,” he added.
Lukman: We divided our votes in 2023
The Convener of G100, Salihu Lukman, attributed previous opposition defeats, particularly in 2023, to the failure of opposition parties to unite.
According to him, opposition parties contested separately in 2003, 2007 and 2011 before changing strategy in 2015 by negotiating common rules and agreeing on a framework before deciding their presidential candidate.
Lukman said the lesson from 2015 was that political parties did not have to like one another to cooperate.
“They agreed on the rules before they knew the outcome. That is the entire secret, and it is not a secret at all,” he said.
Reflecting on 2023, he said opposition votes were fragmented among several candidates, allowing the APC to emerge victorious.
“Nobody stole thirteen million votes. We divided them ourselves, in public, and we did it knowing exactly what the consequence would be,” Lukman said.
Duke backs single candidate
Former Cross River State Governor and PRP presidential candidate, Donald Duke, also endorsed the alliance, warning that opposition parties would struggle to defeat the APC if they continued to contest separately.
Duke called for clear rules of engagement and a common national vision, arguing that the coalition should be about more than capturing political power.
“We must have a vision statement, which we’ve really never had in Nigeria. What is Nigeria all about? What should Nigeria aspire to be?” he asked.
He also advocated a “suitability clause” for political office, saying candidates should be assessed not only on their constitutional eligibility but also on their capacity to govern effectively.
On the possibility of a single opposition presidential candidate, Duke said, “For the office of president, I think it’s best for us to come together.”
He further proposed that the parties consider merging after the 2027 election while retaining their identities for other elective positions.
PDP, ADC, PRP, SDP back coalition
PDP Board of Trustees Secretary, Babangida Aliyu, urged the coalition to take its discussions to the states and local government areas to strengthen grassroots mobilisation.
He said the process should focus on building a framework rather than prematurely choosing candidates.
ADC representative Usani Usani described the proposed alliance as workable but cautioned that the success of the coalition should not be measured solely by whether it immediately produces a single presidential candidate.
He described the emergence of a united opposition as a matter of strategy, saying it was “now or never.”
The NDC leadership also pledged its commitment to the process, describing opposition unity as necessary for national recovery.
The PRP, represented by its National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the party attended the summit with its presidential and vice-presidential candidates as well as members of its National Executive Committee because it believed in the alliance.
“Don’t lose hope. This coalition is a sign of hope. There is a light being beamed,” Baba-Ahmed told Nigerians.
He said the parties would pursue change through “all legal and legitimate means.”
The APM, through Yusuf Burage, said the parties must place national interest above individual and partisan ambitions.
Second summit to decide next steps
The opposition parties agreed to reconvene at a Second Summit where the five working groups will present their reports for consideration and adoption.
The date and venue will be determined by the Central Leadership Committee.
The parties also clarified that the G100 would serve only as facilitator, observer and provider of technical support, while the political parties and their recognised organs would retain decision-making authority.
The six parties pledged to continue negotiations in good faith towards building what they described as “a credible and united opposition” capable of offering Nigerians a viable alternative to the APC in 2027.
