2027 Presidency: Opposition Leaders Set August 18 Summit to Unite Against Tinubu

Opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, are expected to meet in Abuja on August 18 as efforts intensify to forge a common political front ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The proposed meeting is being facilitated by the G100, a coalition of concerned Nigerians, which said it had completed an initial round of consultations with leaders of six opposition parties as part of efforts to build a stronger platform capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the next election.

The group disclosed this in a statement on Monday signed by Salihu Moh. Lukman on behalf of the G100.

It said consultations had been held with the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The engagements, according to the coalition, involved national chairmen, presidential candidates and running mates of the parties.

G100 described the discussions as “frank, constructive and encouraging”, saying they had established a growing recognition among opposition leaders that greater cooperation would be necessary to mount an effective challenge in 2027.

The consultations followed an open letter issued by the coalition on August 2 to opposition leaders, civil society organisations, leaders of thought and other Nigerians. The letter set out what the group described as the “Doctrine of Necessary Democratic Opposition”.

The coalition said it deliberately kept the meetings away from public attention because of the sensitive nature of the discussions and the need to allow the political actors to consider difficult issues without pressure.

“We have deliberately kept these consultations away from the glare of the media, in recognition of the sensitivity of many of the discussions and the need to allow party leaders to engage frankly and constructively without the pressure of premature public commentary,” it said.

The group said its approach was intended to protect the integrity of the process rather than generate publicity around individual meetings.

According to the G100, the consultations have shown that opposition parties increasingly recognise that a credible alternative to the ruling party cannot be achieved through fragmented efforts.

It said the leaders acknowledged that cooperation would require compromise and personal and partisan sacrifices, particularly if the overriding objective was to put national interest ahead of individual ambitions.

The coalition said the next phase of the process would be the proposed Summit of Opposition Parties scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, in Abuja.

The summit is expected to provide a platform for participating parties to begin more structured discussions on possible areas of cooperation and the modalities for achieving greater unity ahead of the 2027 elections.

The G100 stressed that it would not impose any political arrangement on the parties, but would instead facilitate discussions and help build confidence among the various opposition interests.

“The G100 does not presume to dictate the outcome of these conversations. Our role is to facilitate dialogue, build confidence and help create the conditions in which the participating political parties can openly consider the difficult questions of cooperation, sacrifice, accommodation and collective action,” the coalition said.

It added that any eventual arrangement must accommodate the legitimate interests of participating parties while placing the interests of Nigerians above individual political calculations.

The group argued that a functioning democracy requires voters to have a credible alternative at the ballot box, maintaining that excessive fragmentation among opposition forces could weaken their ability to compete effectively.

It said the essence of its Doctrine of Necessary Democratic Opposition was to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy by encouraging opposition parties to find areas of common ground without compromising legitimate political differences.

The coalition acknowledged that the consultations were only the beginning of what could be a difficult process, given the competing interests and ambitions within the opposition camp.

“The task ahead will require patience, courage and, above all, sacrifice,” it said, reaffirming its commitment to facilitating the process in good faith and in the overall interest of Nigeria and its democracy.

The proposed summit comes as political parties and major opposition figures intensify consultations ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the possibility of alliances and a single opposition platform remaining a major issue in the emerging political realignment.