Political leaders from Nigeria’s opposition have agreed to present a united front in the 2027 general elections, resolving to field a single presidential candidate to challenge incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The decision emerged as a key outcome of a National Summit of Opposition Political Leaders held on Saturday in Ibadan, where participants convened to address the country’s mounting political and economic challenges.
At the summit—tagged “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democracy: A National Dialogue”—leaders across party lines warned that Nigeria’s democracy is under growing strain and requires urgent, collective action to preserve it. The gathering culminated in a joint communiqué, the Ibadan Declaration, outlining a unified opposition strategy ahead of 2027.
Central to the agreement is the adoption of a single presidential candidate, a move aimed at preventing vote fragmentation and strengthening the opposition’s electoral prospects.
In his welcome address, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde cautioned against what he described as a gradual erosion of democratic competition. He warned that the consolidation of political power under one dominant party poses a serious threat to pluralism.
“Democracy without opposition is not democracy, it is a slow drift toward a one-party state,” Makinde said, invoking historical political tensions in Ibadan as a reminder of the risks of unchecked dominance.
Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taminu Turaki, described the coalition effort as both strategic and necessary. He noted that internal divisions have long undermined opposition success.
“A single stick can be broken easily, but a bundle of sticks is far more difficult to break,” Turaki said, urging leaders to place national interest above personal ambition.
He further characterized Nigeria’s current trajectory as “progressive regression,” pointing to rising insecurity, economic hardship, and declining public trust in democratic institutions.
Echoing this sentiment, former Senate President David Mark framed the moment as a “national rescue mission,” stressing that no single opposition party can 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 Ibadan Declaration, opposition leaders reaffirmed their commitment to contest the 2027 elections at all levels, rejecting what they described as attempts to entrench a one-party state. They also vowed to resist any effort to reduce the election to a one-candidate race, insisting that Nigerians deserve credible alternatives.
The communiqué also raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. Opposition figures passed a vote of no confidence in the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, alleging bias and calling for his removal ahead of the 2027 polls.
Additionally, the summit urged the National Assembly to review contentious provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and called for an extension of deadlines for party primaries to the end of July 2026.
Participants also demanded the release of political actors reportedly detained for bailable offences, emphasizing the need to uphold fundamental rights and ensure inclusivity in the democratic process.
Speakers throughout the event repeatedly stressed that Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads, calling for decisive leadership to safeguard democratic institutions.
The summit concluded with a shared commitment among opposition parties to deepen collaboration, rebuild public trust, and mount a unified challenge in 2027.
Among the prominent figures 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, among others.
