Since the idea of opposition political parties coming together to adopt a common candidate for the 2027 presidential election resurfaced within the week, the question has been how the proposal can be put into practice, especially given the acrimony that attended the primaries of most of the parties. Weekend Trust recalls that prior to the presidential primaries of the six political parties, said to be currently sold to the idea of adopting a common candidate, most of them were together but left at different stages due to disagreements. Our correspondent reports that the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and others, were all in the same camp and had agreed to work together before they parted ways. Even after the split, the bid to have a broader platform by including the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) absorbed into the other parties did not sail through. My life in captivity – Justice Bunza Over 40,000 security personnel in Osun as election holds today On Tuesday, a group known as the G-100 reintroduced the idea of the opposition parties coming together again to adopt a common candidate despite previous botched attempts. Along that line, the group is proposing a Summit of Opposition Political Parties. It was earlier scheduled for Tuesday, August 18 but has now been shifted to Monday, August 31, 2026. A statement by the convener, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, explained that the summit is to provide a structured platform for the parties to begin the necessary conversations on the modalities for achieving greater opposition unity. The parties involved are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and the Social Democratic Party. Lukman said the shift in date followed consultations with the six participating political parties and members of the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives. He said that over the past several days, the G100 had held extensive engagements with the leadership and principal stakeholders of the six participating opposition parties, as well as members of the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, and the consultations have been ‘frank, substantive and encouraging.’ “We have been particularly encouraged by the seriousness with which the parties have approached these conversations and the energy behind the deliberations. There is a clear recognition across the different parties that this is an important moment for Nigeria’s democracy; and that the opposition must begin to engage one another with greater purpose and structure. “What we have enjoyed most about these consultations is their candour. There are differences, as there should be, but there is also a genuine willingness to listen, interrogate the available options and explore practical areas of cooperation. The quality of the conversations gives us confidence that the August 31 summit can be both substantive and consequential,” Lukman said. He said the G100 would use the intervening period to continue consultations with the participating parties and other relevant stakeholders; and to further develop the proposals and frameworks that would be presented for consideration at the summit. As the opposition continues consultations, sources in the parties say a major point of disagreement has remained the issue of who will step down for the other if a coalition if formed. All the six political parties that are talking have their presidential candidates, running mates and national chairmen. So who will concede his position to the other,’ said a member of one of the parties who does not want to be named. What has changed? The convener of the summit had earlier explained that the opposition now realised the risk of going into 2027 the elections separately. He said, “Across these conversations, there has been a clear recognition of the need for Nigeria’s opposition parties to work more closely together ahead of the 2027 general elections, adding that the leaders have also acknowledged that achieving a credible and effective opposition would require sacrifice, compromise and a willingness to place the larger interests of the country above narrow partisan or individual considerations. He added that the group is now working with the representatives of the parties to finalise modalities and arrangements for the summit while intending to make “the process deliberate, inclusive and anchored on mutual respect, recognising that sustainable political cooperation cannot be imposed, but must be patiently negotiated and collectively owned.” Parties are willing but waiting for clarification All the parties mentioned – the ADC, NDC, SDP, PRP, APM, PDP and some o
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
