By Gift Chapi-Odekina, Abuja Efforts to forge a united opposition front ahead of the 2027 general elections received fresh impetus on Tuesday as the G100 political movement and the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives agreed to deepen collaboration aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The development followed a meeting between a delegation of the G100, led by its Convener, Salihu Lukman, and members of the House Minority Caucus, led by the Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja. The meeting was part of consultations by the G100 ahead of its proposed Summit of Opposition Political Parties scheduled for August 31. The initiative comes amid growing concerns among opposition politicians that persistent divisions could weaken their collective prospects in the 2027 elections. Supporters of the proposed coalition have repeatedly cited the 2023 presidential election, when major opposition parties largely contested separately, as evidence of the consequences of a fragmented opposition. Speaking after the meeting, Agbedi described the engagement as successful, saying it had strengthened the partnership between the G100 and the Minority Caucus. He said both groups had agreed to work together to strengthen democracy and provide Nigerians with a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 elections. “We had just had a successful meeting and in the meeting we concluded that this is the consummation of the alliance partnership, working together of the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives and the G100, fusing into one to ensure that we play an active role in enriching democracy in Nigeria,” Agbedi said. The Minority Leader urged opposition parties, political leaders and presidential aspirants to put aside individual ambitions and begin negotiations towards a common political arrangement capable of mounting a serious challenge to the APC. He said the economic and social difficulties confronting Nigerians had made opposition unity more urgent. “We also decided that we use this opportunity to call on all opposition stakeholders, particularly the leaders of the various parties and presidential candidates, to begin to develop the attitude of working together,” he said. Agbedi further urged opposition politicians across party lines to embrace collaboration, stressing that no individual or political party could achieve the desired change in isolation. “I want to call on all members of opposition, no matter the party you belong, no matter your ambition, that there is strength in unity and that the opposition should unite to ensure that we wrestle power from the APC in 2027,” he said. Earlier, Lukman, a former APC National Vice Chairman, said the G100 initiative was motivated by concerns over the political direction of the country and the inability of opposition forces to coordinate effectively. He said the movement was established to persuade opposition parties and political actors to negotiate a common political arrangement rather than advance the interest of any particular individual, party or organisation. “Our mission is simple. It was a follow-up to the open letter we issued to our leaders, which you are part of that leadership, and we all came together out of concern,” Lukman said. He warned that continued fragmentation could result in a repeat of the 2023 electoral experience. “As opposition parties, we seem to be fragmented, and if we continue the way we are going, we are almost going to replay the 2023 scenario. It is almost like a case of handing over victory to the ruling party, and then we go back to square one,” he said. Lukman said the political and socio-economic challenges facing the country required opposition leaders to put aside personal and partisan interests and negotiate around a common objective. He said the G100 was prepared to facilitate the discussions necessary to bring opposition forces together ahead of the elections. According to him, consultations had already been held with political leaders across six opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Peoples Movement (APM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). Lukman said the consultations involved presidential candidates, running mates and national chairmen of the parties, adding that the response had been largely encouraging. He said the outcome of the engagements informed the decision to convene a broader summit where the proposed coalition could be discussed. The summit, initially scheduled for August 18, was shif
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