Failed G100 Summit Exposes Opposition Weakness Ahead Of 2027, Says TDF

The Democratic Front (TDF) has described the failure of the recent G100 opposition summit in Abuja as evidence of deep divisions within the opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The group argued that the inability of the opposition parties to agree on a common candidate showed that they lacked the cohesion required to mount a serious challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Wale Adedayo, TDF said the absence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi from the summit further exposed the difficulties confronting the opposition coalition.

The group noted that Atiku is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, while Obi is the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

TDF said both politicians had earlier promoted a united opposition platform but now appeared unwilling to pursue the same arrangement after securing presidential tickets from their respective parties.

“We view the conspicuous absence of the presidential candidate of ADC, Atiku Abubakar, and his NDC counterpart, Peter Obi, from the recently held summit as a major setback,” the group said.

It described the Abuja meeting as the latest setback in efforts by opposition parties to field a single candidate against Tinubu in 2027.

According to TDF, Atiku and Obi’s pursuit of individual presidential ambitions has weakened efforts to build a united opposition front.

The group recalled what it described as the Ibadan Declaration of April 25, 2026, which sought to persuade opposition parties to work towards a common platform against the ruling All Progressives Congress.

TDF said the subsequent emergence of Atiku and Obi as candidates of separate parties had complicated that objective.

“It is indeed sad to note how badly Atiku and Obi’s rabid pursuit for power have negatively impacted opposition politics in Nigeria,” the group said.

It further accused opposition parties of suffering from declining internal discipline, factional disputes and prolonged legal battles.

TDF said these challenges had affected party cohesion from the national level down to states and local government areas.

The group also questioned the opposition’s criticism of the Tinubu administration over alleged moves towards a one-party state.

It argued that attempts by several opposition parties to adopt one presidential candidate could itself undermine the principle of multiparty democracy.

TDF said the conflicting positions within the opposition showed that the parties had yet to develop a clear strategy for the 2027 election.

The group therefore maintained that the failed summit reflected the current weakness of the opposition rather than an emerging electoral threat to Tinubu.

It said the inability to agree on a common candidate had further exposed divisions that could make it difficult for the opposition to present a coordinated challenge in 2027.