Major opposition parties in the country are warming up to a fresh coalition aimed at presenting a common challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election. The proposed alliance, being championed by the G-100, is seeking to bring together the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The presidential candidates of the parties are; Atiku Abubakar (ADC), Peter Obi (NDC), Seyi Makinde (APM), Donald Duke (PRP), Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer (SDP) and Senator Sandy Onor (PDP). The G-100, led by former Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman, in a statement yesterday, said opposition parties cannot individually muster the political strength required to defeat the ruling party and is therefore pushing for a consensus candidate and a united platform. The initiative has received support from several of the parties, although political analysts say personal ambitions, rivalry among opposition leaders and the limited time available before the 2027 election could frustrate the effort. The G-100 is expected to hold a summit on August 18 as part of efforts towards building consensus among the opposition parties, their presidential candidates, running mates and national chairmen. The latest initiative is a revival of an earlier attempt by opposition parties to forge a common front. A similar proposal emerged at a summit in Ibadan last November but failed to produce a lasting alliance. While some opposition leaders have expressed willingness to explore the new arrangement, analysts remain skeptical about whether presidential candidates who have spent years building their individual political ambitions will be prepared to step aside for a consensus candidate. When contacted, most of the parties listed in the current coalition building confirmed to Daily Trust that they were aware of the development and welcomed the idea of the summit, saying it is the right path towards ensuring the change they are seeking. Lukman had explained in an interview on Trust TV that If the opposition is really committed to Nigeria, the first thing to do is to do the needful and give Nigerians the confidence that there is an alternative. He said, “Once they don’t come together, I don’t think Nigerians will bother themselves. And this is the message we have passed and we are still passing to the leaders of the opposition”. ‘Atiku amenable to any process that’ll deny Tinubu second term’ The media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, said the ADC’s presidential candidate is amenable to any process that will deny the APC and President Tinubu a second term in office. He told Daily Trust yesterday that while he could not confirm whether the G-100 had met with Atiku, the former vice president had never wavered on the coalition effort. Ibe said: “He (Atiku) was one of the earliest people that started the discussions of opposition figures and even political parties coming together. “He was in Oyo State for the Ibadan declaration and summit, even though some of the actors of the Ibadan have moved on to other parties. But for him I do not think that anything has changed. “Atiku Abubakar believes in the efficacy that a bunch of broom will do far better that a single stick of broom. I believe that the Wazirin Adamawa will not shy away from anything that would bring the opposition together. “What the G-100 are saying aligns with what he has been saying since last year after the last election. He saw clearly that the best way and Nigerians also saw it and that was what led to the birth of the coalition. “A lot of water has passed under the bridge, but then politics is dynamic and I believe he will be amenable to any process that will make Nigerians to have their way, ensure that APC and President Tinubu are not handed a second term. So that Nigerians can begin to rebuild their country. “ The African Democratic Congress, ADC, on its part said it is open to any relationship or collaboration with any other political party that shares its vision and aspirations.” The National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, also told one of our correspondents that the party is not averse to the coalition effort. NDC, PRP confirm consultation The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) yesterday confirmed receipt of an invitation for the coalition summit. Its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, told Daily Trust that “this is because the opposition parties will be stronger if they coalesce into one party to challenge the ruling party.” According to him, the NDC is not opposed to the possibility of the opposition coming together. He emphasised that such a proposition must take into consideration the strongest and most popular of the pre
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